Jill Biden Caused Offense After Likening Latinos to 'Tacos' in a Speech; Hispanic Journalists React

Hispanic journalists on Monday responded to First Lady Jill Biden's controversial remark that likened Latino people to "tacos."

According to The Hill, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) said the first lady's comment calling the Latino community "as unique as the breakfast tacos" was culturally inappropriate.

In a statement, the association said: "we are not tacos," adding that they encourage Biden and her speech writing team to "take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities."

The NAHJ noted that "using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio, Texas indicates "a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region."

"Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by a variety of diasporas, cultures and food traditions, and should not be reduced to a stereotype," the group of Hispanic journalists added.

Jill Biden's 'Tacos' Remarks in Texas

Jill Biden issued the remark on Monday at the 2022 UnidosUS Annual Conference held in San Antonio, where she spoke on the Hispanic "Quest for Equity."

In her speech, the first lady said: "The diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio, is your strength."

Aside from the "tacos" remark, the Independent reported that Biden was also criticized for mispronouncing the word "bodega" as "bogeda."

Steve Guest, Ted Cruz's special communications adviser., tweeted about Biden's speech and said, "this isn't Veep."

He then asked, "which White House speechwriter just won a bet" for getting the first lady to say it.

Another Twitter user said that Democrats do not have any idea how to talk to Hispanics, adding that "we will lose our democracy" under their leadership because they were "so tone-deaf."

Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona also took a jab at the first lady's comment, suggesting that it was the reason Latino voters are "fleeing the Democratic Party."

Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, described the incident as "democringe."

Meanwhile, a retired three-star Army general has been suspended from his duties after he reportedly posted a critical comment on his social media account against Jill Biden.

According to an Army spokeswoman, retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky was serving as an HQE-SM or a highly qualified expert-senior mentor advising active-duty officers.

Volesky was suspended by Lt. Gen. Theodore Martin, the commanding general of the Combined Arms Center, The Hill reported.

A Twitter account under Volesky's name reportedly replied to Jill Biden's statement following the Supreme Court's decision overturning the abortion rights Roe v. Wade.

Hispanics for Joe Biden

In 2020, around six out of 10 Latinos voted for President Joe Biden. Around eight percent also turned to former President Donald Trump compared in the 2016 election.

The first lady's controversial remark came just four months before the 2022 midterm elections. On Monday, Jill Biden also said in her speech that Latinos who supported her husband in the 2020 presidential election "were right to put your faith in him." However, she added, "we need to do much more."

Hispanic voters noted in a Reuters report in May that soaring inflation is causing them to seriously consider turning to Republicans in the upcoming elections.

Of 55 Hispanic voters Reuters spoke to, nearly half said they do not necessarily blame Democrats but have lost faith in their ability to solve inflation, so they are increasingly willing to let Republicans try.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: First Lady Jill Biden Faces Criticism for 'Breakfast Taco' Comment in San Antonio - From WFAA