CNN
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President Joe Biden on Tuesday sought to clean up his previous comments that sparked an immediate backlash from many who interpreted them as referring to supporters of former President Donald Trump as “garbage.”

Responding to Trump’s offensive rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Biden said during a Voto Latino rally call: “And the other day at his rally, a speaker called Puerto Rico ‘a floating island.’ ‘Trash.’ Well, let me tell you something…I don’t know the Puerto Ricans that I know…or Puerto Rico, where I am – in my home state of Delaware – they are good, decent, honorable people.”

“The only trash I see floating out there is his supporters,” Biden said, pausing for a moment before continuing. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and un-American. It’s a complete contradiction to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”

Biden’s comments drew strong backlash online, with Republicans immediately linking them to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 remark that half of Trump’s supporters were “deplorables.” Biden’s comments came just as Vice President Kamala Harris was set to take the stage for a large rally in Washington, DC.

“Today I called the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico expressed by Trump supporters at his rally at Madison Square Garden trash – that’s the only word I can think of to describe it,” Biden posted later that evening X. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I wanted to say. The comments at this rally do not reflect who we are as a nation.”

When CNN asked for an explanation about the president’s comments, a White House spokesman insisted that Biden had meant “supporter” and not “supporter,” arguing that he had actually said the following: “The only garbage I “I see floating out there is that of his supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is incomprehensible and un-American.”

“The president called the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally trash,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said.

Trump was informed of Biden’s comments during his rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, when Florida Senator Marco Rubio ran on stage and said, “Maybe you didn’t hear that.” Just now. Joe Biden stated that our supporters are trash.”

Trump said: “Wow. That’s awful. That’s how it stands. That’s how it stands. So remember Hillary? She said “deplorable” and then she said “irredeemable,” right? But she said woefully, that didn’t work. Garbage is worse in my opinion, right?”

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance also took up Biden’s comments. “This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half the country. There is no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it,” the Ohio senator posted on X.

As CNN reported earlier Tuesday, Biden’s role has fallen even further into the background in the final weeks of the election, as recent campaign gaffes prompted a range of reactions from some Harris campaign aides – from eye rolls to outright anger.

The president also criticized Trump’s character as he tried to make a case for Harris in the phone call.

“Donald Trump has no character, he doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community. “He is a failed businessman and only cares about the billionaire friends he has,” Biden said, calling the former president “a real danger.”

“He is a real danger, not just to Latinos but to all people, especially those who are in the minority in this country. You know, we have to vote to elect Kamala president. Tim Walz as Vice President. It has never been more important,” Biden said.

In the days since his rally in New York City, Trump’s campaign has sought to distance itself from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who made the remark about Puerto Rico. Hinchcliffe, like the other speakers, was an invited guest. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement Sunday.

But the vulgar and racist rhetoric at the rally has led to recriminations among the former president’s inner circle and deep concern that his message has once again been eclipsed by controversy.

CNN’s Gregory Krieg, Steve Contorno and Kristen Holmes contributed to this report.