NEW YORK –
Donald Trump took the stage Sunday evening at New York’s Madison Square Garden to ship his marketing campaign’s closing argument with the election 9 days away after a number of of his allies used crude and racist insults towards U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and different critics of the previous president.
The Republican nominee started by asking the identical questions he’s requested initially of each latest rally: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” The gang responded with a powerful “No!”
“This election is a choice between whether we’ll have four more years of gross incompetence and failure, or whether we’ll begin the greatest years in the history of our country,” he stated after being launched by his spouse, Melania Trump, whose uncommon shock look comes after she has been largely absent on the marketing campaign path.
A number of audio system earlier on Sunday crudely insulted Harris, who’s vying to grow to be the primary lady and Black lady to win the presidency. And a humorist made lewd and racist feedback about Latinos, Jews and Black individuals, all key constituencies within the election simply 9 days away.
“I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” stated comic Tony Hinchcliffe, whose joke was instantly criticized by Harris’ marketing campaign because it competes with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and different swing states. Shortly after Hinchcliffe’s look, music celebrity Dangerous Bunny, who’s from Puerto Rico, endorsed Harris.
Trump’s childhood pal David Rem, in the meantime, referred to Harris as “the Antichrist” and “the devil.” Businessman Grant Cardone advised the gang that Harris ”and her pimp handlers will destroy our nation.” And former Fox Information host Tucker Carlson known as Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, “a Samoan, Malaysian, low-IQ former California prosecutor.”
Scott Lobaido unveils a portray earlier than Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks at a marketing campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Evan Vucci/AP Picture)
Trump’s closing argument turns to spectacle
The event was a surreal spectacle, turning what his marketing campaign had marketed because the event the place he would ship his closing message within the marketing campaign’s remaining days to an illustration of what turns off his critics. The lineup included Home Speaker Mike Johnson, TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, former skilled wrestler Hulk Hogan, and somebody who painted an image of Trump hugging the Empire State Constructing.
And that was all earlier than the Republican presidential nominee took the stage greater than two hours late.
Trump on Sunday added a brand new proposal to his checklist of tax cuts aimed toward successful over older adults and blue-collar employees, which already consists of vows to finish taxes on Social Safety advantages, ideas and extra time pay: A tax credit score for household caregivers.
This comes after Harris has talked concerning the “sandwich generation” of adults caring for growing older mother and father whereas elevating their youngsters on the similar time. Harris has proposed federal funding to cowl dwelling care prices for older People.
Trump in any other case repeated acquainted strains about overseas coverage and immigration, calling for the demise penalty for any migrant who kills a U.S. citizen and saying that the day he takes workplace, “The migrant invasion of our country ends.”
The rally was an amped-up model of the RNC
Lots of the audio system Sunday appeared on stage on the Republican Nationwide Conference. This time, the identical audio system shouted and railed extra in opposition to Democrats.
Hogan, returning to the venue the place he carried out years in the past as an expert wrestler, appeared to reprise his character, rising sporting a large crimson, orange and yellow boa and violently waving a big American flag as he posed and danced. He spat on the stage throughout his speech, flexed his muscle tissues repeatedly and advised the viewers: “Trump is the only man that can fix this country today.”
Hulk Hogan rips his shirt at a marketing campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture)
Whereas some Democrats and pundits have questioned Trump’s resolution to carry what they dismiss as an arrogance event in his hometown, the rally ensures Trump what he most craves: the highlight, wall-to-wall protection and a nationwide viewers.
The closing message he’ll ship Sunday, in accordance with his marketing campaign, is that Harris “broke” the nation and that Trump “will fix it.” Rallygoers hours beforehand waved indicators with the phrases “Trump will fix it.”
Some Democrats, arguing that Trump is a “fascist,” have in contrast his Sunday event to a pro-Nazi rally on the Garden in February 1939. A number of audio system on Sunday ripped Hillary Clinton, the Democrat defeated by Trump eight years in the past, for saying lately that Trump could be “reenacting” the 1939 event.
“Hey guys, they’re now scrambling and trying to call us Nazis and fascists,” stated Alina Habba, one in all Trump’s attorneys, who draped a shiny “MAGA” jacket over the lectern as she spoke. “And you know what they’re claiming, guys? It’s very scary. They’re claiming we’re going to go after them and try and put them in jail. Well, ain’t that rich?”
Declared Hogan in his attribute raspy growl: “I don’t see no stinkin’ Nazis in here.”
Trump has denounced the 4 prison indictments introduced in opposition to him as politically motivated. He has ramped up his denunciations in latest weeks of “enemies from within,” naming home political rivals, and steered he would use the army to go after them. Harris, in flip, has known as Trump a “fascist.”
The sector was full hours earlier than Trump was scheduled to talk. Exterior the world, the sidewalks have been overflowing with Trump supporters in crimson “Make America Great Again” hats. There was a heavy safety presence. Streets have been blocked off and entry to Penn Station was restricted.
Within the crowd was Philip D’Agostino, a longtime Trump backer from Queens, the borough the place Trump grew up. The 64-year-old stated it was acceptable for Trump to be talking at a spot payments itself as “the world’s most famous arena.”
“It just goes to show ya that he has a bigger following of any man that has ever lived,” D’Agostino stated.
A New Yorker returns dwelling
New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. However that hasn’t stopped Trump from persevering with to insist he believes he can win.
Trump routinely makes use of his hometown as a foil earlier than audiences in different states, portray a darkish imaginative and prescient of the town that bears little resemblance to actuality. He’s solid it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who’ve taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Instances Square.
Trump has a sophisticated historical past with the place the place he constructed his enterprise empire and that made him a tabloid and actuality TV star. Its residents indicted him final yr on 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise information. He was discovered responsible in that case, and in addition discovered liable in civil court docket for enterprise fraud and sexual abuse.
Video boards outdoors Madison Square Garden show details about the marketing campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Picture)
The rally is one in all a sequence of detours Trump has created from battleground states, together with a latest rally in Coachella, California — greatest identified for the well-known music competition named after the city — and one in Could on the Jersey Shore. This summer time he campaigned within the South Bronx.
To achieve them, Trump has spent hours showing on widespread podcasts. And his marketing campaign has labored to create viral moments like his go to final weekend to a McDonald’s restaurant, the place he made fries and served supporters by way of the drive-thru window. Video of the cease posted by his marketing campaign has been seen greater than 40 million occasions on TikTok alone.
Harris has additionally traveled to non-battleground states for main occasions supposed to drive a nationwide message. She appeared in Houston Friday with music celebrity Beyoncé to discuss reproductive rights, and can ship her personal closing argument Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, the place Trump spoke forward of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump will likely be joined on the rally by supporters together with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of tens of millions of {dollars} to spice up his marketing campaign.
Trump usually compares himself to the nation’s biggest entertainers. The previous actuality TV star has lengthy talked about wanting to carry a rally on the venue in interviews and personal conversations.
Past the nationwide highlight and the enchantment of showing on one of many world’s most well-known levels, Republicans within the state say the rally will even assist down-ballot candidates. New York is dwelling to a handful of aggressive congressional races that would decide which celebration controls the Home subsequent yr.
Trump will even use the cease as a significant fundraising alternative as he continues to significantly lag Harris within the cash race.
New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. However that hasn’t stopped Trump from persevering with to insist he believes he can win.
Trump routinely makes use of his hometown as a foil earlier than audiences in different states, portray a darkish imaginative and prescient of the town that bears little resemblance to actuality. He’s solid it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who’ve taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Instances Square.
Trump has a sophisticated historical past with the place the place he constructed his enterprise empire and that made him a tabloid and actuality TV star. Its residents indicted him final yr on 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise information. He was discovered responsible in that case, and in addition discovered liable in civil court docket for enterprise fraud and sexual abuse.