On Sunday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris received a significant boost in support when Latin music superstar Bad Bunny shared her video about Puerto Rico on his Instagram Story.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, showcased a clip of Harris discussing the importance of Puerto Rico in the upcoming election. With over 45 million Instagram followers and a record-breaking music career, his endorsement carries considerable weight.
In the video, Harris addressed the impact of the Trump administration’s response to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, saying, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and competent leader.”
An April 2021 oversight report revealed that the Trump administration had hindered a crucial investigation into the delays in disbursing $20 billion in federal aid to Puerto Rico after the devastating hurricane in 2017.
The HUD Inspector General documented that bureaucratic issues created by the administration significantly slowed down the aid process, which was critical to helping Puerto Rico recover from one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.
Bad Bunny went on to repost the video multiple times, increasingly zooming in on Harris until the last segment simply read, “I will not forget what Donald Trump did.”
This social media moment followed a controversial performance by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, where his remarks about immigration and Puerto Rico drew backlash, including strong responses on social media.
Representative Richie Torres criticized Hinchcliffe’s comments, expressing outrage over the racism directed toward Puerto Ricans and urging Latino voters to remain mindful of such sentiments as they head to the polls.
With both candidates vying for every vote in a tight race, Bad Bunny’s endorsement comes at a crucial time as polling shows shifts in the Latino electorate. Recent data indicates that Harris has been able to expand her lead among Hispanic voters to a 30-point advantage in the lead-up to the election, compared to President Biden’s robust support in 2020.