Support for Vice President Harris
Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, known for his influential presence, expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday after a controversial remark was made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during a rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden. Hinchcliffe made an offensive comment about Puerto Rico, referring to the island as a “floating island of garbage,” which sparked widespread outrage. In response, Bad Bunny shared a clip on social media highlighting Harris’s plans for Puerto Rico, a move that underscores the ongoing battle for the Puerto Rican vote in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania, home to approximately 500,000 Puerto Ricans.
In the video shared by Bad Bunny with his 45 million Instagram followers, Harris criticized Trump’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, stating, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.” She highlighted the lack of adequate support provided to the island after the hurricanes, reminding viewers of Trump’s infamous gesture of tossing paper towels to hurricane survivors.
Campaign Dynamics and Celebrity Influence
The timing of Bad Bunny’s post aligns with Harris’s campaign efforts to solidify celebrity endorsements as she seeks to connect with younger Latino voters, a demographic that has shown increasing support for Trump. While the campaign has been in talks with Bad Bunny’s team, his representative clarified that his repost of Harris’s video should not be viewed as an official endorsement but rather as an expression of support for the vice president’s focus on Puerto Rico. The representative emphasized, “Benito’s political focus has always been on Puerto Rico,” but did not indicate whether a formal endorsement would be forthcoming.
An endorsement from Bad Bunny has been a strategic goal for the Harris campaign for several months, recognizing the significant influence he wields in the Latino community. The campaign celebrated not only Bad Bunny’s support but also that of other Puerto Rican stars like Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Luis Fonsi, who joined in condemning Hinchcliffe’s remarks. Fonsi shared the video of the comedian’s joke on his own social media, expressing disbelief and reinforcing his support for Harris with a message signaling his intent to vote for her.
Harris’s Commitment to Puerto Rico
Earlier on Sunday, Harris visited Freddy & Tony’s Restaurant, a Puerto Rican establishment in north Philadelphia, where she addressed the challenges facing Puerto Rico and outlined her policies aimed at improving the island’s situation. “I’m going to create an opportunity economy task force for Puerto Rico,” she stated, emphasizing her commitment to building economic opportunities and enhancing the electrical grid. This focus on Puerto Rico aligns with her broader strategy to connect with voters by addressing specific issues that resonate with the community.
As the political landscape shifts and the race intensifies, the actions of artists like Bad Bunny serve as a reminder of the powerful role that celebrity endorsements can play in influencing public opinion and voter turnout in crucial elections.
