Harris distances herself from Biden's 'garbage' comment as backlash grows

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday distanced herself from President Biden seeming the night before to call supporters of rival GOP nominee Donald Trump "garbage," saying she "strongly disagrees" with criticizing people based on their voting preferences.

“I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” Harris told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base, outside of Washington, D.C.

Biden addressed comments a warm-up comic made at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally during a virtual call on the same day Harris gave a major campaign speech on the Ellipse, outside of the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night.

"Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage," he said. "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable and it is un-American."

Harris said in response: "You heard me last night and continuously throughout career. I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people, whether they support me or not."

She also said Biden “clarified his comments."

In an X post, Biden tried to walk back his statement.

"Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump's supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage – which is the only word I can think of to describe it," Biden said, referencing the comedian at the rally.

In his X post, Biden also wrote: "His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That's all I meant to say. ... The comments at that rally don't reflect who we are as a nation."