Comedian Refuses To Apologize For Puerto Rico Joke At President Trump’s MSG Rally

While supporters of President Trump witnesses a lineup of enthusiastic endorsements from high-profile figures during a massive rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City just days before the election, his foes in the mainstream media focused almost entirely on an obvious joke delivered by a roast comic on stage.

For his part, however, Tony Hinchcliffe remains defiant and vowed not to apologize for his quip about Puerto Rico’s overflowing landfills.

As the New York Post reported:

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe refused to apologize for his controversial joke in which he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” — but he admitted then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally wasn’t the best place for that particular routine.

Hinchcliffe, whose “garbage” comment sparked widespread outrage in the week leading up to the election, opened up about the poorly-received joke on the latest episode of his podcast “Kill Tony” released Monday.

“I apologize to absolutely nobody,” Hinchcliffe declared to a cheering audience of the live show.

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe says he apologizes "to absolutely nobody" for his Puerto Rico joke at the MSG rally.

Good.

Hinchcliffe doubled down and joked how he was apparently the only person in America who knew about Puerto Rico's landfill problem.

"I referenced Puerto Rico… pic.twitter.com/gWdnx8jYtA

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 13, 2024

The comedian previously addressed the backlash with a social media statement:

These people have no sense of humor. Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his “busy schedule” to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone…watch the whole set. I’m a… https://t.co/VFxHRcdv5k

— Tony Hinchcliffe (@TonyHinchcliffe) October 27, 2024

His performance has been the subject of significant discussion online in recent weeks:

Props to @JonStewart for admitting he finds @TonyHinchcliffe funny.

“I find that guy very funny. I’m sorry, I don’t know what to tell you. I mean, bringing him to a rally and having him not do roast jokes? That’d be like bringing Beyoncé to a rally and not … " pic.twitter.com/Y3ZFCnRtDb

— Johnny Woodard (@JohnnyWoodard) October 29, 2024

🚨DAVE SMITH: "I was rooting for Trump last night as much as anybody."
ROGAN: "Not as much as Tony Hinchcliffe."
DAVE SMITH: "Okay. Second most."
ROGAN: "Tony was showing me his phone saying 'More Puerto Ricans voted for Trump than EVER. It was up 26%!'" LMAO!😂 pic.twitter.com/3ATT76gMhA

— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 7, 2024

tony hinchcliffe for press secretary pic.twitter.com/MoeOUM4hyv

— wyatt.today (@wyatttoday) November 6, 2024

The Hill provided additional coverage of his latest defiant statement:

A crowd watching the live-to-tape show could be heard exploding in laughter as the comic continued.

” … Not to the Puerto Ricans, not to the whites, not to the Blacks, not to the Palestinians, not to the Jews, and not to my own mother, who I made fun of during the set,” Hinchcliffe continued.

Hinchcliffe’s routine, which came just days before the 2024 presidential election, set off a firestorm about Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail and earned him blistering criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.

Hinchcliffe is an insult comic known for his brutal roasts of celebrities and his fellow performers. His jokes taking jabs at minority groups have sparked internet backlash before.

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Here’s a full clip of Hinchliffe’s remarks at the rally: