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GOP Operatives Are Concerned the Puerto Rico Comments Could Ruin Republican Advances With Minorities

“Trump may have done what Harris’ campaign hasn’t been able to do — make him lose Latino voters,” GOP strategist Mike Madrid said.

A woman waves the flag of Puerto Rico
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Patrick Semansky/AP

As far as polling goes, 2024 has been looking like one of the best years for GOP efforts to win over minority voters in the last 40 years. At least, it was until Sunday night.

Donald Trump’s rally in New York City on Sunday — when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” said Latinos “love making babies” and claimed they “don’t pull out,” in addition to business influencer Grant Cardone saying Kamala Harris and her “pimp handlers” would “destroy our country” — has suddenly put much of the GOP’s hard work attracting minority voters at risk, Republican operatives told NOTUS.

One GOP operative told NOTUS that Trump is “guilty by association.”