Puerto Rico Catholic archbishop: Important that Trump personally apologize for comedian’s comments

SAN JUAN — Roberto González Nieves, archbishop of San Juan de Puerto Rico, called on former President Trump to apologize personally for comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke comparing Puerto Rico to “a floating island of garbage.”

In an “open letter” addressed to the former president, the archbishop said he “consulted with my brother bishops of Puerto Rico” and was “dismayed and appalled” by Hinchcliffe’s joke, which the controversial comedian delivered Sunday at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally ahead of the GOP presidential nominee’s speech. “I call upon you, Mr. Trump, to disavow these comments as reflecting in any way your personal or political viewpoints,” the letter reads. “It is not sufficient for your campaign to apologize. It is important that you, personally, apologize for these comments.”

Hinchcliffe, who goes by Kill Tony, has faced significant backlash from figures across the political aisle since delivering the joke. His set also included jokes targeting Jews and Black men, but it was his comments about Puerto Rico that generated the most attention and criticism. “There’s a lot going on. Like, I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe said on stage Sunday, eliciting mixed reactions from the crowd. The comedian has also defended his remarks amid scrutiny. The archbishop sharply pushed back on Hinchcliffe’s remarks in his open letter.