In a Wednesday radio interview, Slotkin expressed her disapproval of Biden’s words, saying, “He shouldn’t have said it, it’s inappropriate. For me, that kind of talk is exactly what we don’t need in our politics.”

The comment emerged after Biden’s response to a question during a virtual event for Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign. When comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's controversial joke—referring to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage" during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden—was mentioned, Biden remarked, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” taking aim at Trump’s rhetoric and specifically condemning what he called Trump’s “demonization” of Latinos.

The White House quickly attempted to clarify Biden's remarks, with spokesperson Andrew Bates explaining that Biden’s comment was directed at Hinchcliffe's joke, calling the comedian’s words “garbage” rather than targeting any group of people.

Drawing comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment from 2016, Biden’s words have sparked debate. Slotkin, however, cautioned against such rhetoric as she vies for a Senate seat in a contentious race against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers. "I didn’t like that. I thought it was unnecessary,” she remarked, adding that “most Michiganders, around 80%, simply want government to function, with Democrats and Republicans able to discuss issues civilly.”

Slotkin concluded with a hopeful tone, stating that many voters are likely just “ready for this election to be over.”
Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat vying for a Senate seat in Michigan, criticized President Biden’s recent comment labeling Trump supporters as "garbage," saying the remark was unhelpful and “inappropriate.” Slotkin, in a close race with Republican Mike Rogers, emphasized that most Michiganders want a functional, civil government.