2024 election updates: Trump concludes MSG rally with anti-immigrant rhetoric

Some of former President Donald Trump's advisers have proposed a plan, should he win the election, that would allow Trump to grant security clearances to a large number of his appointees without using the traditional background check process by the FBI, according to a memo described to ABC News that has circulated among his top aides.

The proposal in the memo -- which has circulated among a small group and is being promoted in part by Trump's top legal adviser Boris Epshteyn -- would essentially allow Trump to quickly install a group of loyalists without them being subject to the typical FBI background checks, according to sources.

The New York Times first reported the news.

It proposes using investigators in the private sector to conduct background checks instead of the FBI, and would clear the way for Trump to essentially install a large number of his political appointees on Day 1 on the basis they'd been approved to receive classified briefings, sources said.

The approach would raise significant questions about safeguards that could be bypassed as a result of such an approach, which runs contrary to how typical presidential transition operations have sought to prepare personnel for higher-level posts in an administration.

Some of Trump's advisers have a complicated history with background checks and therefore distrust the vetting process typically undertaken by the FBI. It's unclear how many people the alleged proposal in the memo would apply to, but people familiar with it say it would cover a huge portion of Trump's political appointees.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Will Steakin and John Santucci

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who called Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage" at former President Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday, faces growing backlash from Republicans - including Trump's own campaign.

Election Day is just one week away.

"This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign," Trump campaign's senior adviser Danielle Alvarez wrote in a statement to ABC News.

Senate Republican Rick Scott - who has long supported statehood for Puerto Rico - also wrote on X that the joke was not funny and "bombed for a reason," while House Republican Maria Salazar said on the platform that she was "disgusted" by Hinchcliffe's rhetoric, which " does not reflect GOP values."

The Republican Party of Puerto Rico also denounced Tony Hinchcliffe's comments in a statement on Sunday, with party chair Angel Cintrón writing that they were "unfortunate, ignorant, and entirely reprehensible."

He added that the comments do not represent the values of any Puerto Ricans, Democrat or Republican, on the island or throughout the United States.

Notably, while Puerto Rico does not vote for president in the general election, since it is a U.S. territory, the Republican Party of Puerto Rico held a primary in April as part of its presidential nominating process. That primary was won by Donald Trump, who netted the territory's delegates.

Hinchcliffe has not yet issued a formal response as the GOP distances itself from him.

He did, however, quickly reply to Tim Walz when the Democratic governor of Minnesota called him a "jackwad," writing on X, "These people have no sense of humor. Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his 'busy schedule' to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist."

Hinchcliffe continued, "I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone...watch the whole set. I'm a comedian Tim...might be time to change your tampon."

The controversy is not a first for Hinchcliffe, who has a history of making racially charged jokes.

In 2021, he came under fire after calling fellow comedian Peng Dang racist names in a mocking Chinese accent. It was during a Big Laugh Comedy show in Austin, Texas, where Dang had just introduced Hinchcliffe to the stage after doing a series of jokes related to #StopAsianHate. During the set, Hinchcliffe reportedly further made racist jokes against Chinese people.

After the incident, Hinchcliffe was reportedly removed from his agency, WME, and dropped from a scheduled episode on Joe Rogan's podcast. He was also reportedly forced to cancel several upcoming shows.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim, Oren Oppenheim and Kelsey Walsh

While Trump started his speech with "a message of hope," he quickly went into his usual stump speech, disparaging immigrants and emphasizing a campaign promise to enact mass deportations on "Day 1."

Dan Krauth has more on Sunday's Trump rally at Madison Square Garden.

"On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out. I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail. They kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible," Trump said.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage during a rally at...Show more
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Trump then promised to deliver the death penalty for migrants who kill Americans or police officers.

"I'm here by calling for the death penalty for any migrant that kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer," Trump said.

Calling on supporters to turn out on Election Day, Trump said, "With your help, from now until Election Day, we will restore America's promise. We will put America first, and we will take back the nation that we all love."

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa