“All I heard was that Biden thinks Trump supporters are ‘garbage,’ and that’s just unacceptable!” fumed one rally-goer in Allentown, echoing the outrage sweeping across Trump’s voter base. President Joe Biden’s recent slip-up on a Zoom call with Voto Latino has ignited a firestorm after he allegedly referred to Trump’s supporters as “garbage”—a remark that’s already shifting the landscape of the tight 2024 election. Bookmakers have slashed odds, with Trump now edging closer to the White House as Biden’s comments reverberate through the polls.
It all began when Biden took aim at comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who, at a recent Trump rally, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Responding to Hinchcliffe’s offensive remarks, Biden said, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters…his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable.” The backlash was immediate. Supporters of Trump and even some undecided voters viewed this as a direct jab at the millions who support Trump’s bid for a return to office. Senator Marco Rubio, seizing the moment at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, fired up the crowd by claiming, “Moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage,” sparking a wave of booing and jeering that set social media ablaze.
While the White House has insisted that Biden’s words were taken out of context, the impact on Trump’s campaign is undeniable. The president’s team quickly scrambled to clarify, arguing Biden’s remarks were solely directed at the “hateful rhetoric” from Trump’s rally, not his supporters as a whole. But for many, the damage was already done. Republican influencers and Trump-aligned media channels seized the narrative, amplifying the sense of insult and alienation among Trump supporters. This PR crisis couldn’t have come at a worse time for Biden, as the polling numbers are razor-thin with the election only days away.
Meanwhile, bookmakers are shifting their odds. Both Bet365 and Paddy Power now have Trump as the favorite, while Ladbrokes and Betfair show similar trends. In just 24 hours, Trump’s odds have risen from 66.7 percent to over 69 percent—a clear signal that public sentiment may be swinging in his favor. FiveThirtyEight’s updated forecast places Trump with a 52 percent likelihood of winning, up from Tuesday’s nearly even split, reflecting just how quickly these kinds of controversies can tilt the election scales.
This gaffe underscores the fierce tension in this election, with Biden running against not just Trump, but the fiery and dedicated base behind him. As early voting numbers surge, both camps are laser-focused on keeping their narratives sharp and their supporters engaged. Biden has tried to bridge the divide in a country more polarized than ever, but his comment—no matter how unintentional it may have been—has brought him unwanted controversy. As the election draws closer, Biden’s campaign will likely continue the damage control, while Trump’s camp capitalizes on every word.
Sources for this article include: Newsweek, White House official statements, and recent polling data.
