President Biden faced backlash after referring to supporters of former President Trump as “garbage,” leading to concerns for Democratic Senate candidates in swing states where Trump is popular. Several candidates, including Tammy Baldwin, Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, Jacky Rosen, Bob Casey, and Ruben Gallego, were reached out to for comment on Biden’s remarks. While some candidates distanced themselves from the comment, emphasizing their commitment to representing all voters, others had disparaged Trump supporters in the past.
Elissa Slotkin, a Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, also criticized Biden’s comment, calling it inappropriate and stating that such divisive rhetoric has no place in politics. Despite the condemnation of Biden’s remark by the Democrats contacted by Fox News Digital, some candidates, such as Gallego and Brown, have made derogatory statements about Trump supporters in the past. Biden’s comment was compared to Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” remark in 2016, which was seen as damaging to her campaign.
During a campaign call with Voto Latino, Biden took aim at Trump’s supporters, drawing parallels to hateful rhetoric at a Trump rally. He referenced a joke made by a comedian mocking Puerto Ricans, calling the joke “garbage” and implying that Trump’s supporters were the real “garbage.” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates clarified that Biden was not calling Trump supporters garbage and was instead referring to the joke made at the rally. Vice President Kamala Harris distanced herself from Biden’s remarks, stating that she strongly disagrees with criticizing people based on their voting preferences.
The controversy surrounding Biden’s comment highlights the challenges faced by Democratic Senate candidates as they navigate the political landscape in states where Trump remains popular. While some candidates have taken a more inclusive approach to reaching out to voters, others have made derogatory statements about Trump supporters in the past. Biden’s comment, although clarified by the White House, has drawn comparisons to past divisive remarks made by political figures, such as Hillary Clinton. The response from both Democratic candidates and White House officials underscores the need for unity and bipartisanship in today’s political climate.
