Tim Walz ripped comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” Puerto Rico joke in an interview with Dan Le Batard that published Tuesday.
“Using vulnerable people as a punchline for your jokes is really weak," the Democratic nominee for vice president said. "That is not humor.”
Hinchcliffe told a racist joke during a Donald Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday that referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." The joke sparked criticism amongst both Republicans and Democrats, with a Trump campaign advisor distancing the Republican candidate from the remark.
Trump told ABC News' Rachel Scott that the former president did not know the comedian.
"I'm hearing from folks, you know, the Hispanic community is nervous and in some cases scared," Walz noted. "So, I didn't watch it personally. [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] showed that to me that in real time."
Referring to Hinchcliffe, Walz added: "I didn't know who this guy was, this comedian or whatever."
“The guy's delivery was terrible," the Minnesota governor said. "It was just meanspirited. That wasn't a joke. That was a dog whistle — well, not even a dog whistle. It was a scream.”
