At a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, a comedian made controversial jokes about Latinos, described Puerto Rico as a floating trash island, and referenced “carving watermelons” with a Black friend.

“There’s a lot happening. I’m sure you know, there’s actually a floating island of trash in the ocean,” comedian Tony Hinchliffe, known as Kill Tony, remarks made on Sunday.

He then followed up with a punchline: “I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

Hinchliffe’s humorous interjections before Trump’s speech prompted a mix of laughter and disapproval from the audience.

The comedy series Kill Tony, hosted by Hinchliffe, features both emerging and established comedians sharing raunchy humor, which has led to accusations of racism and sexism from listeners.

Hinchcliffe’s performance aligns with the overall strategy of the 2024 presidential candidates to resonate with audiences nationally. For Trump, gathering supporters at a prestigious venue like Madison Square Garden is key. However, Hinchliffe’s humor continues the controversial style that has played well with Trump’s base.

During his routine, Hinchliffe made remarks about Latinos that elicited mixed responses from attendees. He expressed his support for immigrants but did so with a hand gesture suggesting exclusion.

“It’s ridiculous,” he added. “And those Latinos, they really enjoy having kids, just so you know. It’s true.”

While performing, he pointed at a Black audience member and exclaimed, “Look at this guy with a lampshade on his head! What is that?”

After a moment, he clarified, “Just joking! That’s a friend of mine from a Halloween party last night. We had a blast carving watermelons together.”

Later in the evening, senior Trump aide Danielle Alvarez responded, clarifying, “This joke does not reflect President Trump’s view or that of the campaign,” in relation to Hinchcliffe’s comment on Puerto Rico.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Hinchcliffe’s remarks during a live discussion of the rally, noting that there are many Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania, encouraging them to vote for Harris.

Following Hinchcliffe’s comments about Puerto Rico, former White House official Alyssa Farah Griffin tweeted, “Who wants to tell these guys that about HALF A MILLION Puerto Ricans live in Battleground PA, and their votes are at stake?”

Angel Cintrón, chairman of the Republican Party of Puerto Rico, also took to Twitter, expressing that Hinchcliffe’s statements were “unfortunate, ignorant, and utterly unacceptable,” calling them a “failed attempt at humor.”

“There’s no place for such absurd and racist comments,” Cintrón declared. “These views do not reflect conservative values anywhere in our nation, including the 3 million Puerto Rican Americans on the island and nearly 6 million throughout the states.”

“Regardless of political affiliation, we are American citizens and proud Puerto Ricans, contributing richly to American democracy for over a century,” he emphasized.

In response to the backlash, Hinchcliffe stated on Twitter that he has a fondness for Puerto Rico and has vacationed there. He also expressed disbelief at Walz’s reaction, saying, “These folks really lack a sense of humor.”

(This article has been updated with additional information.)