Puerto Rico's biggest newspaper endorses Harris

Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día endorsed Vice President Harris on Tuesday amid a commotion over a comedian insulting the island at former President Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday.

The endorsement is the paper’s second ever, following the daily’s backing of President Biden ahead of the 2020 election.

In an editorial explaining the decision to support Harris, the newspaper’s editorial board was harshly critical of Trump and cautiously optimistic about Harris.

“One week before the election, Trump’s erratic and narcissistic behaviors reveal a lack of balance and ability to build agreements and solutions to the serious problems facing the United States, its territories, and the broad group of its allied countries,” wrote editor María Luisa Ferré Rangel.

Ferré went on with a scathing rebuke of Trump’s behavior and its potential consequences.

“Trump suffers from psychopathic elements that he evidences by lying repeatedly. He has no moral compass and believes that the rules do not apply to him. These are traits typical of those people who qualify as malignant narcissists. Trump is one of the worst. With these emotionally hollow characteristics, the only thing important to that type of person is themselves. This is evident in his distortion of reality. To Trump, no one is better than he is. Only he exists. We are facing one of the most critical moments, not only in the history of the United States, but of the world.”

Trump’s campaign disavowed comedian Tony Hitchcliffe's joke that equated Puerto Rico to an oceanic garbage patch, but Trump has yet to address the offending line himself.

In a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump did not touch on the subject, and he denied knowing Hitchcliffe or having heard the bit in an interview on ABC News.

Puerto Rican voters are expected to play a key role in the presidential election, particularly in Pennsylvania.

Trump is due to hold a rally Tuesday evening in Allentown, Pa., home to a sizeable Puerto Rican community.

How and if Trump addresses the fracas will come under close scrutiny, with the commotion over the joke unfolding a week before Election Day.

El Nuevo Día’s editorial board warned that, in their view, the joke was not a one-off.

“It is cowardly to insult those who cannot defend themselves. At Sunday’s event they not only insulted Puerto Ricans. They also insulted Latinos, blacks and women. An angry mob shouted prostitute at the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. They also spat in front of a group of her supporters. Many were Latinos, who applauded, not understanding the consequences. One day it will be your turn.”

The paper praised Harris for releasing a policy plan for Puerto Rico – coincidentally posting her plans as Hitchcliffe drew renewed attention to the island.

“Just on Sunday, as insults rained down on Puerto Rico, the Democratic candidate offered a message of hope, promising to maintain the interagency group dedicated exclusively to strengthening and creating new opportunities,” wrote Ferré.

El Nuevo Día’s endorsement added a call to “all those who love our beautiful island” to vote against Trump in the presidential election.

The Trump campaign did not directly address the endorsement in response to a request for comment from The Hill.

"Due to President Trump's plans to cut taxes, end inflation, and stop the surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border, he has more support from the Hispanic American community than any Republican in recent history," said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's national press secretary.

Puerto Ricans are statutory U.S. citizens who can vote in federal elections only if they are residents of one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Because Puerto Rico is not a state, it doesn’t send electors to the Electoral College, meaning Puerto Ricans on the island can’t vote for president.

“To all Puerto Ricans who can vote in this upcoming United States election and represent those of us who cannot: Vote for Kamala Harris,” wrote Ferré.

—Updated at 4:10 p.m.