The 81-year-old president has long had a tendency to misspeak and Democratic strategists know that this could be risky at such a critical juncture, given how close the race is. Last night’s comments reinforced this risk.
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“Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them garbage – and they mean it!” Trump said at a rally in North Carolina today. “Even though, without question, my supporters are far higher quality than Crooked Joe and Lyin’ Kamala.”
The gaffe consumed the morning news in the US, sucking oxygen from Harris’ speech, which she delivered at the same place where Trump had revved up his fans before the attack on the January 6 Capitol building in 2021.
Asked about the incident during an appearance on Good Morning America, Walz said: “The vice president and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone part of this.”
Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, who is a campaign surrogate for Harris, told CNN that while Biden’s words were not “what I would choose, I think it’s important that we remain focused on the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and not attacking supporters of either candidate”.
The White House tried to clarify the comments by issuing a transcript seeking to put them in comment in a broader context, insisting that he had said “supporter’s” – to refer to the comedian’s quote – and not “supporters”.
Joe Biden on the campaign trail in Baltimore earlier this week.Credit: AP
Biden also put out a clarification on social media saying his comments simply referred to “the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter”.
The latest comment is not the first time Biden has made a verbal blunder, which is something that Trump, who is 78 and now the oldest person to run for office, is also prone to. For instance, the Republican has confused Biden for Barack Obama, referred to Nikki Haley when meant Nancy Pelosi, and regularly goes on meandering rants at his rallies.
Nonetheless, the Trump campaign is expected to capitalise on comments in the final days of the campaign to attack Harris and try to energise more people to vote in favour of the Republican.
Trump was on stage at a rally in Pennsylvania – a critical swing state with high numbers of Puerto Ricans – when Florida Senator Marco Rubio presented him with the news in real time.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dances at a campaign rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania.Credit: AP
“I have breaking news, Mr President: just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage,” Rubio said as he took the podium.
As the crowd booed at the news, Trump shook his head in disapproval.
“Wow. That’s terrible,” he said when he returned to the microphone, reminding supporters of Clinton’s deplorable comments, then adding: “Garbage, I think is worse.”
“While I am running a campaign of positive solutions to save America, Kamala Harris is running a campaign of hate,” Trump later said in a post.
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