The hosts of The View denounced former President Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, calling it the "rally from hell" and racist after a comedian's remarks about Puerto Rico sparked controversy.
Tony Hinchcliffe, a stand-up comic, said: "I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah. I think it's called Puerto Rico."
Fellow Puerto Rican co-host Sunny Hostin criticized Trump and his team for inviting Hinchcliffe, asserting he is the real trash, not Puerto Rico.
"This Puerto Rican has something to say about the island that I love, where my family is from, Puerto Rico is trash? We are Americans, Donald Trump," Hostin said.
Hostin said Puerto Rican votes matter especially in the swing states with Pennsylvania being home to nearly 500,000 Puerto Ricans, while North Carolina has 115,000; Georgia,100,000; Arizona, 64,000; Wisconsin, 61,000; Michigan, 43,000; and Nevada, 27,000.
"Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny, Luis Fonsi, and Marc Anthony have over 345 million followers on Instagram. I think you only have 26 million. Since you care so much about size," Hostin said.
Hostin continued, "We don't like what was said about Puerto Rico, and we know how to take the trash out. Trash that has been collecting since 2016 and that's you Donald Trump. My fellow Puerto Ricans, trash collection day is November 5."
Co-host Ana Navarro is drawing the line, calling out what she describes as Trump's repeated use of racist tropes.
"If Trump asking for the death penalty for five young men of color, black and Latino, the exonerated five wasn't enough for you. If Trump promoting a racist trope against the first black president wasn't enough for you, if Trump calling Mexicans rapists and criminals and bad hombres wasn't enough for you. If Trump calling us vermin invaders, people who poison the blood of this country, wasn't enough for you."
Navarro said, "If Trump throwing paper towels at people in need after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico wasn't enough for you. If Trump saying immigrants have made this country into the trash can of the world wasn't enough for you, then maybe, just maybe, this comedian, hand picked, chosen, vetted by the Trump campaign because he reflects what Trump has said his entire lifetime, maybe that will be enough."
Co-host Sara Haines added, "That's what's driving me crazy, is that the rhetoric in these things is disgusting, disturbing, and you should feel very uncomfortable watching this."
Trump senior adviser Danielle Alvarez told Newsweek the "joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."
Hostin said while Trump was busy criticizing Puerto Ricans, Vice President Kamala Harris was at a Puerto Rican restaurant outlining her agenda for the island.
Harris said via X, formally Twitter, her plan will ensure Puerto Rico is economically secure, creating opportunities for the island's next generation to prosper.
The 2024 Presidential Election is only 8 days away, featuring a high-stakes matchup between Harris and Trump.
Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com