Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro distanced himself from fellow Democrat President Biden’s off-the-cuff remark at a virtual campaign call this evening in which he appeared to bash Donald Trump supporters as “garbage.”
“I’m giving you my fresh reaction to it. I would never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn’t support,” Shapiro told CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.”
Shapiro gave his “fresh reaction” to Biden’s off-the-cuff remark. APPresident Biden’s 'garbage supporters' comment isn't the first time he’s attacked Donald Trump voters:
- “It’s not just Trump, it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism.” — Joe Biden at DNC fundraiser in Bethesda, Md., on Aug. 25, 2022.
- “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” — Biden at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 1, 2022.
- “We are talking about mega MAGA Republican officials who have been very clear about this, who say, you know, they are pro-police, but then they are also pro-insurrectionists.” — Karine Jean-Pierre at press briefing on Nov. 2, 2022.
- “There is no question that today’s Republican Party is driven and intimidated by MAGA extremists. Their extreme agenda, if carried out, would fundamentally alter the institutions of American Democracy as we know it.” — Biden in Tempe, Ariz., on Sept. 28, 2023.
- “Those MAGA voices who know the truth about Trump and January 6th have abandoned the truth and abandoned our democracy.” — Biden in Blue Bell, Pa., on Jan. 5, 2024.
Biden had said, “Just the other day, a speaker at [Trump’s] rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage … the only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The president later denied calling Trump backers “garbage.” The White House claimed he used the word “supporters” with an apostrophe to refer to the “hateful” rhetoric specifically and not backers of the former president broadly.
