Washington — Puerto Ricans angered by a offensive remark on the island during former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday have little recourse because residents of the territory cannot vote in the presidential election.
But millions of Puerto Ricans live in one of the 50 states and are eligible to vote. According to the Pew Research CenterPuerto Ricans make up the second-largest Hispanic voting group, with nearly 6 million voters living in the continental United States in 2021. Pennsylvania It particularly has a large Puerto Rican population whose votes could make a difference in this battleground state.
Days before Election DayTrump’s campaign is trying to distance itself from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who made several racist and crude insults toward minorities during the rally, including calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
Can Puerto Ricans vote in US presidential elections?
According to the 2020 census, 3.4 million people live on the island of Puerto Rico. These residents of Puerto Rico are not allowed to vote in presidential elections, although they are U.S. citizens and can participate in both Republican and Democratic presidential primaries.
Puerto Ricans can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C., and are registered to vote.
What did Tony Hinchcliffe say about Puerto Rico at the Trump rally?
Racist jokes from comedian Tony Hinchcliffewhich is called Kill Tony, overshadowed what was supposed to be Trump’s final message.
“I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island full of trash in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe said.
Trump’s campaign said Hinchcliffe’s jokes, which also included offensive jokes about blacks and Latinos, were not pre-approved or reviewed by the campaign.
“This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” senior advisor Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Puerto Rican singer Nicky Jam rescinded his endorsement Wednesday for Trump, telling his 42 million social media followers that he was dropping his support because of the joke.
Bad Bunny superstar threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris shortly after the comedian made the joke.
Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper supports Harris’ presidential bid after controversy
On Tuesday, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper, El Nuevo Día, approved Harris and urged the five million Puerto Ricans living in the states to vote for the Democratic candidate.
“To all Puerto Ricans who can vote in the upcoming United States elections and represent those of us who cannot: vote for Kamala Harris,” it read.
The editorial criticized Trump for continuing “a narrative of contempt and misinformation” against Puerto Rico that shows “contempt for a people who do not have the power of the vote to defend themselves.”
“Trump’s erratic and narcissistic behaviors reveal a lack of balance and ability to reach agreements and solutions to the serious problems facing the United States, its territories and all of its allied countries,” said the newspaper.
Why isn’t Puerto Rico a state?
There has been debate for years over the status of Puerto Rico, which became a U.S. territory in 1898 after Spain ceded it to the United States following the Spanish-American War.
Congress has been reluctant to grant Puerto Rico statehood because of the potential economic costs, as well as concerns about how it would shift the balance of power in Washington.
If it became a state, two senators would be added to the Senate and it would receive proportional representation in the House.
Puerto Rico has held a series of votes unrelated to its relationship with the United States, most recently in 2020, in which more than half of voters said the island should be granted statehood.
What other US territories are excluded from presidential elections?
Like Puerto Rico, residents of these U.S. territories cannot vote in presidential elections: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Except for residents of American Samoa, people born in the other four U.S. territories are U.S. citizens and can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, DC. Residents of American Samoa, who are U.S. nationals, are not eligible. vote in federal elections even if they live in one of the states.
