Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, have distanced themselves and their campaign from comments that President Joe Biden made and walked back that appeared to refer to former President Donald Trump's supporters as "garbage."
"Listen, I think, first of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear: I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for," Harris told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday, reports CNN.
"You heard my speech last night and continuously throughout my career," she added. "I believe that the work that I do is about representing all the people whether they support me or not."
Harris said Biden called her Tuesday night but said his comments "didn't come up."
She also insisted that she will "represent all Americans" if she's elected.
"I am sincere in what I mean," said Harris. "When elected president of the United States, I will represent all Americans, including those who don't vote for me, and address their needs and their desires."
Biden brought an outcry from Republicans, including Trump, when he was commenting on Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage."
"Well, let me tell you something … I don't know the Puerto Rican that I know… or Puerto Rico where I'm — in my home state of Delaware — they're good, decent, honorable people," the president said in a Latino get-out-the-vote call. "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters," he added.
Biden attempted to clarify his comments in an X post, saying he was referring to the "hateful rhetoric" at the Trump rally, and a White House spokesperson insisted that Biden meant "supporter's," or the words Hinchcliffe had used.
Walz on Wednesday told CBS News that Biden's comments were a response to the "frustration with Donald Trump's rhetoric of division" while rejecting the argument that what was said undercut Harris' message.
"I think there's — the frustration we've seen since January 6, the frustration with Donald Trump's rhetoric of division," said Walz. "President Biden was very clear that he's speaking about the rhetoric we heard at that. So, it doesn't undermine it."
Walz added that voters should focus on Harris' message, as she is the party's nominee, not Biden.
"The vice president and I have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone as a part of this," Walz said. "Donald Trump's divisive rhetoric is what needs to end. He called this a garbage country, and continues on from 'the enemy within,' " he said. "What you heard Vice President Harris say, and what I say is, there's a place for all of us here, and I think that's the one — she's running for president, she's making the message, and she delivered that speech on the Ellipse that showed what we can be as a country."
Meanwhile, CNN reported that senior Harris campaign officials were hearing from supporters who suggested that Biden should remain out of public view until after Election Day is over.
"The Biden gaffe yesterday is just so infuriating," one former administration official said. "Nobody wants him out there."
But another advisor said that the Harris campaign "won't lose a single voter" because of Biden's comments.