“The Train Has Left the Station”: Puerto Rican Supporters Express Frustration Over Trump’s Silence on Rally Remarks

In the wake of controversial remarks made about Puerto Rico at former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, Trump is planning an event in Pennsylvania aimed at Puerto Rican supporters. The remark, calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage,” sparked significant backlash, leading Trump to attempt damage control. However, some prominent Puerto Rican voices are already saying it’s too little, too late.

Victor Martinez, owner of La Mega radio station, shared his thoughts with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace on Trump’s delayed response. Martinez believes Trump’s unwillingness to apologize is costing him Puerto Rican support. Wallace questioned whether Trump’s upcoming event would include an apology, asking, “Are you expecting him to apologize tonight for his political purpose? And do you think people will buy it?”

“Well, No. 1: No, I don’t expect him to apologize,” Martinez replied. He explained that he had posed this very question to his audience that morning: “If all of a sudden Trump finds God and decides that he wants to apologize or take back or distance himself from those comments, would it be okay? Would you take it?” According to Martinez, his listeners were overwhelmingly dismissive.

“Audience overwhelmingly said, ‘No, too late.’ Some of them even said the train had left the station. He could have done it Sunday. He could have done it on Monday. He could have done it this morning. And yet, he didn’t.” Martinez also shared an intriguing comment from a listener who noted Trump’s choice to post on Truth Social about unrelated issues rather than addressing the remarks made at his rally. “She called and she said, ‘I follow Trump on Truth Social.

And he found time yesterday at 2:00 — she was very specific, at 2:00 — to go to Truth Social and criticize Fox News for having Michelle Obama on the air, but yet he hasn’t found time to go to Truth Social and distance himself or apologize for what happened in his rally,’” Martinez explained. “So, those are the types of comments that I’m getting from the audience who obviously are now very engaged.”

The discontent is not limited to Martinez’s radio listeners. Puerto Rican celebrities and influencers are also speaking out, further amplifying the backlash. One of the most notable voices is Don Omar, the Puerto Rican superstar and actor in the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Don Omar recently posted, “Puerto Rico is my homeland and my identity.

Today, more than ever, I raise my island’s flag in pride. It’s time to turn the page. We are not going back,” aligning himself with Vice President Kamala Harris and distancing from Trump. Further adding to the fallout, Jenniffer Gonzalez, Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress and a current gubernatorial candidate who has previously supported Trump, expressed her disappointment on Puerto Rican television.

Gonzalez stated that the rally comments would cost Trump in states with significant Puerto Rican populations, underscoring the potential impact of this controversy on Trump’s campaign. With the election looming and early voting underway, Trump’s delayed response to these remarks has led some Puerto Rican Americans and high-profile figures to reconsider their support, showing that his silence may have already damaged his standing in key communities.