Donald Trump’s highly anticipated rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden began with a series of racist jokes, with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe calling Puerto Rico a “floating pile of trash,” among a number of other crude remarks.

The “jokes” angered many – including some Republicans, who immediately expressed dismay that Trump had included the comedian at his rally.

Puerto Rico Republican Party Chairman Ángel Cintrón called the comments “regrettable, ignorant and completely reprehensible” in a statement posted on social media.

“A poor comedic attempt that, just as it was soundly rejected by the audience at the event, deserves to be rejected by all,” the statement said.

María Elvira Salazar, a Republican representative from Florida, wrote: “This rhetoric does not reflect the values ​​of the Republican Party. Puerto Rico sent more than 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam, awarding over 345 Purple Hearts. This courage deserves respect.”

Rick Scott, a senator from Florida, also posted about the joke, which backfired.

“That joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny and it’s not true,” Scott said. “Puerto Ricans are great people and great Americans!”

Another Florida resident, Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, wrote: “This is not a joke. It’s completely classless and tasteless.”

He added that Hinchcliffe was “clearly not funny and definitely does not reflect my values ​​or those of the Republican Party.”

Meghan McCain, daughter of John McCain, wondered whether the rally could actually help Trump in the final days before Election Day.

“I actually think this rally could backfire. How exactly do moderates and independents win over? This is MAGA on steroids,” McCain said.

Even the Trump campaign rejected Hinchcliffe’s comments Sunday night.

“This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the campaign, said in a statement The Washington Post.

Likewise, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign criticized Hinchcliffe just hours after a stop at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia where she announced a new agenda)” href=”https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://x.com /KamalaHarris/status/1850586660662100394__;!!LsXw!W9vIkCiuW33RGljNNLnaMmLlSFe13U-df9sj_rCIN_G61SmbclOh7eorJaIAKJVCBCAbGP9OOvxmzQ0GU2bVL1nEscc$”> Agenda for the modernization of critical infrastructure and the economy in the Caribbean island.

“As a reminder, Pennsylvania is home to more than one million Latinos, most of whom are of Puerto Rican descent,” the campaign says.

A number of prominent Puerto Ricans also supported Harris after Trump’s rally on Sunday, including rapper Bad Bunny and singer Ricky Martin.