Trump rally comedian defends Puerto Rico joke amid backlash: "I apologize to absolutely nobody"

The comedian who made a joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump campaign rally and received criticism said he wouldn't apologize and accused the media of trying to "defame" him.

In the latest episode of his "Kill Tony" podcast, which was released Monday night and recorded the day after Trump's Madison Square Garden rally on October 27, Tony Hinchcliffe addressed the controversy surrounding his comedy set.

"Last night, I gave a speech about free speech, despite being under attack. I mentioned Puerto Rico's landfill problem, which is filled to the brim. Unfortunately, I seem to be the only person who knows about it. However, I want to clarify that I love Puerto Ricans, who are very smart people. They are street smart and know when they are being used as political fodder."

"I apologize to no one, not the Puerto Ricans, Whites, Blacks, Palestinians, Jews, or my own mother, who I made fun of during the set. No one reported on me making fun of my mother."

Maybe that venue wasn't the ideal spot for that set at that time. However, to the mainstream media and anyone attempting to defame me online: That's what I do, and I'll always continue to do it with intensity.

At the MSG rally, Hinchcliffe made several racial jokes, but his comment about Puerto Rico being a "floating island of garbage" drew intense negative attention and criticism from liberal media hosts, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, and President Biden.

Hinchcliffe responded to criticism from Ocasio-Cortez and Walz, who had accused him of insulting Puerto Ricans.

"These individuals lack a sense of humor," the comedian wrote on X last month. "It's astonishing that a vice presidential candidate would interrupt his busy schedule to analyze a joke taken out of context and make it seem racist," he wrote. "I adore Puerto Rico and frequently visit there. I joked about everyone... watch the entire set. I'm comedian Tim... perhaps it's time to switch your tampon."

Keith Olbermann, a former MSNBC host, predicted that Hinchcliffe's joke could sway the election in Harris' favor.

On October 27, Olbermann made a mocking comment on X about the number of Puerto Ricans who vote in swing states after the election of the VP.

The campaign swiftly disavowed the joke, stating it did not align with the president's or campaign's views.

Although there was opposition, Trump managed to secure victories in several Florida counties with a high population of Puerto Ricans, which he had previously lost in both 2020 and 2016.

In the 2020 election, Osceola County, which has the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the Sunshine State, voted for Trump despite previously voting Democrat in the last two elections where Trump ran. Similarly, Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties, both with a substantial population of Puerto Ricans, also went for Trump in 2020, despite Trump losing these districts in the previous elections.

Planet Chronicle' Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.