Harris’s “unity” message falters as surrogate Robert De Niro calls Trump a “piece of shit” and Biden labels Trump supporters “garbage,” drawing backlash from across the political spectrum just days before the election.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s “unity” theme took another hit as actor Robert De Niro, a high-profile campaign surrogate, unleashed a fiery rebuke of former President Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, calling him a “piece of shit.” Just days later, President Joe Biden escalated tensions, referring to Trump supporters as “garbage” during a virtual event, remarks that were met with immediate backlash from both sides of the aisle.
De Niro’s comment, “It makes me so fucking angry that we’re here talking about a piece of shit like Donald Trump,” stirred cheers from Harris supporters at the event. Joining fellow celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio, De Niro headlined the rally to energize voters in the swing state, though his sharp language overshadowed the Harris campaign’s call for unity.
Biden’s follow-up remarks added fuel to the fire, stating, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his [Trump’s] supporters,” while criticizing Trump’s treatment of the Latino community. Biden later tried to clarify, saying his comment was intended solely to criticize “hateful rhetoric” about Puerto Rico made at a Trump rally by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Nevertheless, prominent conservatives seized on Biden’s words. Actor James Woods circulated the clip online, urging voters to “send this worthless fool back to his basement.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. suggested Biden’s late-night follow-up statement was crafted by an aide and insisted Biden’s initial comments were unmistakably clear. "The hate of the Harris-Biden administration is shining through," he posted, a view echoed by those questioning Harris’s “unity” messaging as her campaign grapples with a series of incendiary remarks from high-profile allies and surrogates.
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