Victor Martinez, a Latino radio host based in Pennsylvania, shared his thoughts on the issue during an interview with CNN’s Boris Sanchez on Tuesday.

At the rally, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked outrage by referring to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." Despite Trump campaign adviser Danielle Alvarez clarifying that the joke did not represent the views of either Trump or his campaign, the backlash has been severe. GOP figures, particularly from Florida—the U.S. state with the highest Puerto Rican population—were among those condemning the remarks.

Vice President Kamala Harris seized the opportunity to address the Puerto Rican community during her stop in Allentown, Pennsylvania on the same day as Trump’s rally. She released a video outlining her plan for Puerto Rico, a message that went viral after being shared by Puerto Rican music icon Bad Bunny.

Martinez believes it's too late for Trump to redeem himself with Puerto Rican voters. "I mean, we have about 500,000 Puerto Ricans here in the state of Pennsylvania," he noted. Cities in other battleground states such as North Carolina, which has around 100,000 Puerto Rican residents, could also see voter impacts.

The controversy wasn’t addressed in Trump’s rally in Allentown on Tuesday, where he praised Latino and Puerto Rican voters instead. However, Martinez doubts that an apology or disavowal by Trump at this stage would change public sentiment. "The train has left the station," he emphasized, portraying Puerto Ricans as unwavering once their pride in their island is offended.

Across the U.S., Puerto Ricans total around 5.8 million, accounting for 3.7 percent of Pennsylvania’s population. In the state’s close races, this demographic holds significant sway. In 2020, Joe Biden narrowly won Pennsylvania—a state with 19 Electoral College votes—by just 1.2 points. Martinez warns that Puerto Rican voters could similarly influence outcomes in other battleground states like Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.

Adding to the mobilization efforts, civic engagement organization Voto Latino held a national virtual call on Tuesday to rally Latino voters. María Teresa Kumar, Voto Latino's co-founder and president, said, "Trump and the Republicans are reminding us of their animosity toward each and every Latino."

The political landscape shows that Puerto Ricans and other Latino voters could be decisive in the upcoming election. Although Trump did garner more Latino support in 2020 compared to 2016, his recent controversies may sway voters in battleground states away from him.