WATCH: White House holds news briefing as presidential election enters final week

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden took a swipe against Donald Trump’s supporters as he reacted to the Republican presidential nominee’s weekend rally at Madison Square Garden, which was overshadowed by crude and racist rhetoric.

Watch White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s news briefing in the player above.

In a call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino, Biden on Tuesday responded to a comic at Trump’s rally who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Biden’s initial comments were garbled.

“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something, I don’t, I don’t know the Puerto Rican that I know, the Puerto Rico where I’m fr — in my home state of Delaware. They’re good, decent honorable people,” he said.

The president then added: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden “referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.'”

Biden then took to social media to personally clarify what he said.

“Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage — which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” he posted on X. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”

In referring to Trump’s supporters as “garbage,” however, Biden’s tone was at odds with the message that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is seeking to present as she aims to cast a broad appeal, including to disaffected Republicans. Shortly after Biden’s comments, Harris spoke from the Ellipse in Washington, vowing to be a president who would unite the country.

“I pledge to be a president for all Americans,” said Harris, who is Biden’s vice president.

Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, said the campaign’s message of unity was not undercut by Biden’s words.

Walz said Wednesday on “CBS Mornings” that the president “was very clear that he’s speaking about the rhetoric we heard, so it doesn’t undermine it.” Walz added on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he and Harris “have made it absolutely clear that we want everyone as a part of this. Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric is what needs to end.”

Republicans quickly highlighted Biden’s remark. Trump called up Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during his rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recount what happened.

“Moments ago Joe Biden stated that our supporters, our patriots, are garbage,” Rubio said. “He’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country.”