At a Las Vegas rally on Thursday night, Jennifer Lopez joined Vice President Kamala Harris, condemning Donald Trump’s recent campaign in New York for allegedly disrespecting the Latino community.
Lopez, who was campaigning with Harris in Nevada, expressed outrage over a comedian at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally mocking Puerto Rico — the homeland of her parents — by calling it a “floating island of garbage.”
“At Madison Square Garden, he showed who he truly is and how he feels,” Lopez said, adding that Trump’s actions offended not only Puerto Ricans but “every Latino in this country” and anyone with “decent character.”
Lopez’s remarks aligned with Harris’s recent tour of battleground states like Arizona and Nevada, where close races are expected. Harris’s campaign has recruited a range of high-profile supporters, from musicians Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen to the stars of Marvel’s "Avengers," hoping to energize key voting groups, particularly Black and Latino voters.
Harris launched a new Spanish-language ad targeting Latino voters in response to the remarks made at Trump’s rally, with the ad narrating, “Puerto Rico is an island of scientists, poets, educators, stars, and heroes. We’re not trash.”
The Trump campaign quickly distanced itself from the comedian, stating the joke did not reflect Trump’s views. However, Trump’s campaign has turned the attention to another recent comment by President Joe Biden, which some interpreted as calling Trump supporters “garbage.” The White House clarified that Biden referred to the comedian’s rhetoric rather than Trump supporters.
In her speech, Lopez commended Harris’s understanding of immigrant experiences, saying Harris “gets it” because her own family pursued the American dream. Lopez also spoke of the power of women to drive change in the upcoming election, underscoring her support for Harris as a leader for immigrant families.
Harris further criticized Trump’s recent comment about protecting women “whether they like it or not,” calling it “very offensive to women” and an affront to women’s autonomy. She pointed to Trump’s past appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices who contributed to the end of Roe v. Wade protections. Harris, while campaigning in Reno, also noted the widening gender gap in this election, with women more likely to support her over Trump, particularly on issues surrounding women’s rights and freedoms.
