REUTERS/Jonathan Drake
Former White House adviser and convicted criminal Peter Navarro has sharply criticized comedian Tony Hinchcliffe after Hinchcliffe made racist jokes, reportedly pre-approved by former President Donald Trump’s campaign team, during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden.
At the Sunday rally, Hinchcliffe stirred controversy with a remark targeting Puerto Rico, saying, “I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” The racially charged joke immediately sparked backlash, and both Navarro and Trump’s campaign have since sought to distance themselves from the comedian’s comments.
Navarro took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to express his disapproval of Hinchcliffe’s joke, posting, “No one worked harder for Puerto Rico after the hurricanes hit than @realDonaldTrump. @tonyhinchcliffe must be the biggest, stupidest a-hole that ever came down the comedy pike. Never loved insult comedians (other than Rickles).” Navarro’s criticism of Hinchcliffe came amid a growing public reaction to the joke, which many felt belittled Puerto Rico and added a racial slant to an already tense political event.
The Trump campaign also acted swiftly to condemn Hinchcliffe’s words following the rally, clarifying that the joke was not intended to align with Trump’s message. But a new report from The Daily Beast adds a layer of complexity to the story: Hinchcliffe’s controversial joke was allegedly “pre-loaded into a teleprompter,” suggesting that it may have been reviewed and pre-approved by Trump’s campaign team prior to the event.
If true, this detail raises questions about the campaign’s role in allowing the joke to be presented on stage. Navarro’s condemnation of Hinchcliffe’s comment seemed to be an attempt to defend Trump’s record in Puerto Rico, particularly in the wake of his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria in 2017. Trump faced substantial criticism during that period for the speed and scale of federal assistance to Puerto Rico, where widespread damage, power outages, and water shortages affected millions of residents.
Despite these critiques, Navarro insisted that “no one worked harder” than Trump to support Puerto Rico following the hurricanes, aiming to shift attention from the comedian’s offensive joke to Trump’s perceived efforts. Hinchcliffe, known for his edgy and often provocative style of comedy, has not publicly responded to the backlash. The reaction to his comment highlights an ongoing tension over racially insensitive jokes in political events, particularly when they involve sensitive topics like Puerto Rico’s struggles with natural disasters and federal assistance.
According to analysts, this incident reflects the broader scrutiny Trump’s campaign faces in trying to balance humor and political messaging without alienating potential voters. Trump’s rallies have often featured comedians or entertainers whose comments have, at times, crossed the line, leading to backlash and requiring public distancing from controversial remarks.
Navarro’s blunt response and the campaign’s disavowal of the joke indicate that this situation has quickly become another potential public relations issue for Trump’s team as they move closer to the upcoming election season. The incident with Hinchcliffe and Navarro’s scathing response underscore the broader challenges faced by political campaigns when comedic acts backfire on stage. With increasing sensitivity surrounding topics of race and ethnicity, especially within political contexts, campaigns may need to exercise greater caution in vetting content intended for such high-profile events.
