Trump on comedian's Puerto Rico joke: 'I can't imagine it's a big deal'

Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the significance of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's crack about Puerto Rico being an "island of garbage," pointing to his record of helping the island.

"I have no idea who he is. Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico or something, and I have no idea who he was," Trump said on "Hannity."

"I don't know if it's a big deal or not, but, I don't want anybody making nasty jokes. His stupid jokes. I mean, probably he shouldn't have been there," Trump conceded.

"Now what they've done is taken somebody that has nothing to do with the party has nothing to do with us, said something, and they try and make a big deal," he added. "And I can't imagine it's a big deal. I've done more for Puerto Rico than any president. I think that's ever that's ever been president. I when the hurricanes came, I rebuilt. I helped them rebuild their electrical system. I helped them rebuild dams and everything else."

"That place was hit by so many hurricanes. It's almost like Hurricane Hurricane Alley. I've never seen anything like it," he went on. "And Puerto Ricans love me because I was the president that stood up for them more than any president I've had great relationships with Hispanics, but I've had really great relationships with Puerto Rico and people from Puerto Rico they love. Every time I go outside, I see somebody from Puerto Rico. They give me a hug and a kiss."

"I gave them more money. I sent a hospital ship when they had one of the big hurricanes. They had no hospitals. The hospitals were wiped out. I sent the Big Mercy ship. I sent it to Puerto Rico, fully equipped. It took care of things," he asserted.