Trump Leads Madison Square Garden Rally Following Offensive, Racist Comments from Allies

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump led a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, which opened with vulgar and racist comments from his allies. Trump, a long-time New York celebrity, aimed to use the event at the renowned venue, famous for Knicks games and Billy Joel concerts, to present his final argument against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, despite the state last supporting a Republican presidential candidate in 1984.

Trump repeatedly outlined his plans to stop illegal immigration and deport migrants he labeled as “vicious and bloodthirsty criminals” if he wins the November 5 election. “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history,” he declared. “I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered.”

He also referred to Harris as a “very low IQ individual,” which garnered cheers from his supporters for his tough stance on migrants.

He pledged to ban sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants with criminal records. The event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr. Some speakers used racist and misogynistic language to energize the full-capacity crowd.

Critics have long accused Trump of empowering white supremacists with dehumanizing and racist rhetoric. Trump dismissed comparisons to the 1930s, stating, “This is called Make America Great Again, that’s all this is,” on Friday.

At the New York event on Sunday, wrestler Hulk Hogan declared, “Today this is Donald Trump’s house,” and denied accusations that Trump is a fascist, saying, “I don’t see any Nazis in here.”

Billionaire Elon Musk, who supports Trump’s reelection bid with his X social media platform and significant wealth, was welcomed to the stage with chants of “Elon.” Musk praised the event’s positive energy, saying, “This is the kind of positive energy that America is all about.” He also mentioned that the federal budget could be reduced by “at least” $2 trillion, a task Trump has suggested Musk could lead through a new government efficiency commission.

In his speech, Trump argued that Americans are worse off now than four years ago and announced a new policy to provide a tax credit for caregivers of family members. He highlighted his foreign policy record from his 2017-21 presidency and assured that he would not start wars, though he added that if the U.S. did go to war with China, “We would kick their ass.”

Polls show Harris and Trump are neck and neck in key battleground states with just over a week until Election Day, and over 38 million votes have already been cast nationwide. Trump has linked Harris to the Biden administration’s handling of immigration and the economy, recently introducing a new attack line: “She broke it, and I promise you I will fix it.”

Despite the U.S. economy outperforming other developed nations since the COVID crisis and stock markets reaching record highs this year, high prices for food, utilities, and housing have concerned voters who feel the economy is on the wrong track.

Harris, who held rallies with Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta and Beyonce in Houston, will deliver a high-profile speech on Tuesday on the National Mall in Washington, emphasizing the differences between herself and Trump. In Philadelphia on Sunday, she described Trump as “full of grievance” and using “dark language about retribution and revenge.”

Trump’s campaign reported that the 19,500-seat Madison Square Garden event, which can cost upwards of $1 million to rent, was sold out. Tickets were free and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, similar to Harris’ Houston rally. Harris’ rally with Beyonce in Houston drew about 30,000 people, and her Atlanta rally attracted around 20,000 attendees.

When asked about her campaign’s internal election projections, Harris told reporters in Philadelphia, “My internal polling is my instinct. The momentum is with us.”