Tony Hinchcliffe, a comic who called Puerto Rico “garbage” before a packed Trump rally in New York appears to be the catalyst.

“The reason why I supported Donald Trump was because I thought he was the best for the economy in the United States, where many Latinos live, many of us Latinos live, myself included, many immigrants who are suffering because of the economy and him, being a businessman, I thought it was the best move,” Jam said in Spanish, in a video statement posted to his official Instagram page.

“Never in my life did I think that a month later a comedian was going to come to criticize my country and speak badly of my country and therefore, I renounce any support for Donald Trump, and I sidestep any political situation. Respect Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam.”

Representatives for Jam did not immediately respond to the Associated Press’ request for comment.

Puerto Ricans cannot vote in general elections despite being U.S. citizens, but they can exert a powerful influence with relatives on the mainland.

The effects of Hinchcliffe’s remarks are felt on the island and elsewhere: One of the biggest artists on the planet, the Grammy-award winning Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris, shortly afterward.

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez, shared a video to his Instagram account Tuesday detailing the origins of Puerto Rico and its inhabitants’ prominence in politics, sports and entertainment. The caption read: “garbage.”

“We have been fighting since day one of our existence, we are the definition of heart and resistance,” he wrote in Spanish. “Here we stand, here we are, and for those who forget who we are… don’t worry, we proudly remind you.”

Actor Aubrey Plaza addressed the remarks at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards on Tuesday night, saying her grandmother, if alive, would respond profanely to Hinchcliffe’s characterization of Puerto Rico.

“I just wanted to very quickly respond to the racist joke that was made at that Trump rally about Puerto Rico, where most of my family is from,” Plaza told attendees. “Thankfully, my sweet abuelita wasn’t here to hear that disgusting remark.”

Ricky Martin, who had previously endorsed Harris, was also offended by the comment and said “that’s what they think of us,” on Instagram.

A representative for Anuel AA, another famous Puerto Rican star who endorsed Trump last month, said he was on tour and unable to comment on Hinchcliffe’s remarks.

Jam, known for songs such as “Travesuras,” “Voy a Beber” and the J Balvin collaboration “X” expressed his support for Trump last month at a rally in Las Vegas, where Trump seemed to mistake him for a woman. “Latin Music superstar Nicky Jam! Do you know Nicky, she’s hot. Where’s Nicky?” he said.

As a result, the Mexican pop-rock band Maná has removed its 2016 song with Nicky Jam, “De pies a cabeza,” from online platforms. “Maná does not work with racists,” the group said in an Instagram post explaining the decision.

Maná is rallying with Harris in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The post Nicky Jam withdraws endorsement of Donald Trump over comedian’s ‘garbage’ comment about Puerto Rico appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Trump is slated to deliver remarks at 5 p.m. Oct. 12. The event takes place at Calhoun Ranch, 52995 Calhoun Street, Coachella.

During the rally, the former president is expected to paint a bleak picture for Golden State residents about their state, according to the narrative of an Oct. 7 news release from the Trump campaign.

Doors for the upcoming event open at 1 p.m., according to the campaign. General admission tickets are available here.

While Trump supporters will welcome the visit, some Coachella Valley leaders are not.

Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez released a statement Monday afternoon unfavorably comparing Trump’s planned rally to a 2020 primary campaign event held by Sen. Bernie Sanders, whom he said the city was “proud to welcome.”

“Trump’s attacks on immigrants, women, the LQBTQ community and the most vulnerable among us don’t align with the values of our community,” Hernandez said. “He has consistently expressed disdain for the type of diversity that helps define Coachella. We don’t know why Trump is visiting near Coachella, but we know he wasn’t invited by the people who live here. He ain’t like us.”

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz announced his strong opposition to Trump’s planned visit.

“It’s truly appalling — and yet another demonstration of his cluelessness and ignorance — that Donald Trump would stage a rally in Coachella,” Ruiz said.

“Under a second Trump administration, there is literally no place in America that would be harmed more than the Coachella Valley,” Ruiz continued. “His proposed tariffs would cause another trade war, costing farmers and farmworkers hundreds of millions of dollars in exports and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. His hate-driven immigration policy would decimate the local workforce in agriculture, construction, and hospitality, severely harming families and businesses alike – including some of the businesses that support him. His ignorant opposition to clean energy would destroy local wind and solar businesses, as well as the emerging industries developing in the Salton Sea. And his repeated attempts to dismantle Obamacare would take away health care from thousands of local residents. Donald Trump — and his policies — are an affront to everything that makes the Coachella Valley a vibrant community.”

Coachella City Councilman Frank Figueroa, who Congressman Ruiz endorsed for mayor, echoed the Congressman’s remarks.

“I’m disappointed that Trump is bringing his brand of divisiveness to Coachella. Trump is a threat to our shared values, his policies would decimate Coachella and surrounding communities, and he is an affront to the diversity we have cultivated here. Hate has no home in Coachella,” Figueroa said.

Indio City Councilman Waymond Fermon agreed.

“It’s hard to imagine a politician who represents our communities and our values worse than Donald Trump. He is a threat to our needs and to democracy itself. I certainly will not be attending this rally, and I would discourage everyone else from attending as well,” Fermon said.

Trump was last in Southern California in mid-September, attending a fundraiser in Beverly Hills and holding a news conference at his golf resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. He was also in the area in June, again attending private fundraisers in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach.

Prior to that, he had not been in Southern California since Sept. 29-30, 2023, when he spoke at the California Republican Party Fall Convention in Anaheim and attended a fundraiser in Costa Mesa.

Trump’s son Eric headlined a May fundraiser in Temecula for the conservative Inland Empire Family PAC. Read more here.

The post Former President Trump Scheduled To Appear At Riverside County Rally appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.