By Ethan Przybylski
@redlineproject
Following a controversial comedy set at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, public interest in comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has skyrocketed, according to an analysis of Google search data. Hinchcliffe made many controversial jokes, however arguably the most relevant was his comments on Puerto Rico in which he compares the island nation to a floating pile of garbage.
According to Google Trends, this has spiked US search interest in Puerto Rico very closely alongside the searches for Hinchcliffe. This may be trouble for the Trump campaign as there are many Puerto Rican voters in key swing states and these comments may sway their opinions on who they will vote for on Nov. 5.
Increased search interest for Puerto Rico also surged, since Trump has had a strenuous relationship with the territory for a long time. During his administration, Trump withheld hurricane relief aid to Puerto Rico. Trump later traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with hurricane victims, and in a famous video he threw rolls of paper towels at a crowd of victims.
Despite Hinchcliffe’s set being approved before the rally and being read off of a teleprompter, Trump has denied that these comments align with his views. Meanwhile, Hinchcliffe has doubled down on his statements claiming that Democrats cannot take a joke.
No matter what the aftermath of this rally may bring, interest in Hinchcliffe has significantly increased which may benefit his career despite backlash. Puerto Rican issues have also become a much larger focus for both the Harris and Trump campaigns, with Harris immediately responding with her plan to help Puerto Rico to make Trump look worse by comparison.
Harris’ 60 Minutes Interview vs. Trump’s Joe Rogan Experience Interview
Over the month of October as election day has been drawing nearer and nearer, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have increased their media appearances in a number of interviews. Arguably their most relevant, according to Google search data, were Harris’ 60 Minutes interview on Oct. 7, and Trump’s Joe Rogan Experience interview on Oct. 25. Both candidates have not appeared for an interview on the other program, leading many to believe that both candidates are playing it safe with where they choose to be interviewed.
Both interviews have seen massive search interest, according to an analysis of Google search data. Harris’ 60 Minutes interview has a slight edge in peak searches, which may be seen as a win for the Harris campaign. Trump’s lengthiest interview underperformed by comparison. Harris’ appearance on 60 Minutes followed shortly after Trump’s refusal to appear, in an attempt to show her professionalism.
The large amount of interest in 60 Minutes may cause trouble for the Trump campaign, as Trump had previously scheduled an interview on Oct. 1, before backing out at the last minute and calling the program fake news. As of Oct. 31 Trump is now suing CBS, who host 60 Minutes, for allegedly misleading voters and causing election interference.
However, Trump’s appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience has seemed to help his public image. This interview was seen as a victory by Trump’s supporters who believe the casual environment of the podcast allowed Trump to show that he is down-to-earth. The issue with this is that Trump was not fact-checked, which was one of his issues with 60 Minutes, and could say whatever he wanted without consequence.
Harris has yet to appear on the Joe Rogan Experience, however her campaign has said she was open to it, if Rogan agrees to her conditions.