Donald Trump is on stage tonight for the Presidential Debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, where discussions include issues affecting marginalized communities. As election day nears, Trump’s outreach to Latine voters took an unexpected twist when reggaeton star Anuel AA endorsed him at a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Anuel shared photos on Instagram of himself with Trump and even updated his profile picture to one from the rally. “VOTEN POR TRUMP,” the Puerto Rican artist declared in his caption. This raises the question: will Anuel’s influence resonate with Puerto Rican voters?
“I don’t know if these people know who the hell you are, but it’s good for the Puerto Rican vote. Every Puerto Rican is going to vote for Trump right now. We’ll take it,” Donald Trump said, attempting to leverage Anuel’s popularity in a crowd that seemed mostly unenthused. ‘’The best President the world has seen – this country has seen, his name is President Trump,’’ Anuel, who was joined by fellow artist Justin Quiles, said during his one-minute address to the crowd of Pennsylvania voters who seemed confused to hear from him.
But Anuel’s endorsement wasn’t meant for the immediate audience in the room, and the silence when he began speaking made it clear that they knew this message wasn’t for them. This low-energy endorsement was intended for Latinos across the state of Pennsylvania—a critical battleground state with the third-largest Puerto Rican population in the country. Hurricane Maria drove 125,000 Puerto Ricans out of the island, and they found new homes on the mainland of the United States. Approximately 27,000 of those people arrived in Pennsylvania. They are Trump’s target audience.
However, there’s a glaring disconnect between Anuel’s endorsement and Trump’s history with Puerto Rico. While Anuel mentioned that Puerto Rico has been “going through a lot” since Trump left office, he did not mention the challenges faced during Trump’s presidency. Trump’s handling of Hurricane Maria was widely criticized, with delays in aid, withholding $20 billion in congressionally approved aid for the territory, and a staggering death toll that highlighted federal neglect.
The difference between Trump’s past actions and Anuel’s praise raises questions about the authenticity and potential impact of the endorsement. Speculation has even arisen about whether financial incentives were involved in securing Anuel’s support. Anuel’s significant social media following and influence are undeniable, but for many Puerto Ricans, the memory of going 328 days without electricity and seeing Trump toss paper towels into a crowd of hurricane survivors lingers far longer than any hit song.
In the 2020 presidential election, every vote proved crucial, with Trump losing Pennsylvania by just 81,660 votes. The Trump campaign appears hopeful that endorsements like Anuel’s could help bridge that gap. But will it work? Whether this strategy will resonate with Puerto Rican voters remains uncertain, as the endorsement’s effectiveness may depend on addressing past failures and present realities—and the broader concerns of the very community it aims to influence.
