“Ignore This at Your Peril”: Nicky Jam’s Rejection of Trump Signals Trouble, Warns Democratic Strategist
Donald Trump appears on stage with recording artist Nicky Jam. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
With the election just days away, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona warned longtime Trump insider Matt Mowers on CNN not to dismiss the impact of Puerto Rican influencers turning against former President Donald Trump. The latest defector is reggaeton star Nicky Jam, who withdrew his support following a controversial comedy routine at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
During the event, a comedian made a racially charged remark, calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Nicky Jam’s endorsement was already in question after he quietly removed it from social media last month, following an awkward incident in which Trump mistakenly referred to him as a woman and called him “hot.”
CNN anchor Boris Sanchez introduced the topic, questioning the significance of Nicky Jam’s about-face. “Obviously, he’s not a household name, but in some communities, he’s a very popular artist who means a lot,” Sanchez said. “What’s the significance of him coming out now and withdrawing his endorsement of Donald Trump?”
Mowers, however, downplayed the shift, arguing it would have minimal impact on Trump’s campaign. “I get it. Six days out from the election, Democrats are going to try to spin whatever they can to say, ‘Look, it was really about the Puerto Rican community in Pennsylvania,’” he said. He suggested that the electorate was largely decided, asserting, “If you look at the vast majority of polling, voters are not undecided right now.
Yes, maybe there’s going to be one or two people who will flip… but this is a very baked-in electorate. Voters have made up their minds; they’re not going to change it in the final six days, regardless of what you say.” Mowers further suggested that President Joe Biden’s recent comments, which some Republicans interpreted as disparaging Trump supporters, would actually motivate the base.
“I think President Biden’s comments last night calling half of Americans garbage is going to resonate… they could be more motivated to show up as a result of the fact that they feel like they were attacked by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” he added.
Cardona, however, pushed back on Mowers’ dismissal, suggesting his take was “wishful thinking.” She argued that Nicky Jam’s actions reflect a wider frustration within the Latino community. “What I’m hearing from what Nicky Jam did, and from what I’m hearing from voters, is they are switching their votes,” Cardona said. “In Pennsylvania, there are 500,000 Puerto Ricans and even more in other battleground states.
In Nevada, John King had a piece about Latinos — not just Puerto Ricans, but Latinos — who were saying, ‘That didn’t just p— off Puerto Ricans; it p—ed the Latino community off because you’re talking about us.’” Cardona emphasized that the Latino community’s reaction to Trump’s rhetoric could sway undecided voters and potentially flip support from Trump to Biden.
“People are calling into my show, Latino DJ, saying they are switching their vote,” Cardona shared. “So if you think that that has no effect, keep thinking that. We’ll talk on Tuesday.” The clash between Mowers and Cardona underscores the intensifying focus on Latino voters in key battleground states like Pennsylvania and Nevada.
While Mowers insists that Trump’s base is unwavering, Cardona’s insights point to growing frustration in Latino communities with Trump’s rhetoric and approach, which could influence the final outcome in these pivotal states. As Election Day approaches, both parties are paying close attention to any shifts in support, particularly among key demographics that could ultimately decide the election.
