New York-(Special Correspondent/Webdesk): Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump led a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, opening with speeches from his allies, who sparked controversy with vulgar and racially charged remarks.
Trump, who has long been a prominent figure in New York, aimed to make a final case against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris at the venue, famous for hosting events from Knicks games to Billy Joel concerts. New York, however, has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1984.
In his speech, Trump emphasized a hard stance on immigration, pledging to initiate the largest deportation program in U.S. history if elected on November 5. “On day one I will launch the largest deportation program in American history,” he said, vowing to rid cities of those he described as “vicious and bloodthirsty criminals.”
He criticized Harris, calling her a “very low IQ individual,” and received cheers for promising to ban sanctuary cities and invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants with criminal records.
A diverse group of speakers, including former wrestler Hulk Hogan, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr., addressed the crowd with remarks that some found offensive. Giuliani, once Trump’s personal lawyer, falsely alleged Harris supported “terrorists” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while comedian Tony Hinchcliffe used derogatory language, joking about Latino culture and calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”
Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin responded by posting a clip on Instagram, condemning the remarks. Danielle Alvarez, a senior Trump campaign adviser, clarified to Reuters that Hinchcliffe’s comments did not reflect Trump’s or the campaign’s views.
Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote in U.S. general elections if residing on the island. However, many Puerto Ricans on the mainland, particularly in swing states like Pennsylvania, are eligible to vote. Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia earlier in the day, pledging to “invest in Puerto Rico’s future” if elected.
The Harris campaign later issued a statement criticizing the rally’s tone, calling it “dangerously divisive and demeaning.” Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 opponent, previously accused him of reviving the rhetoric of a pro-Nazi rally held at Madison Square Garden in 1939, which Trump denied. “This is called Make America Great Again, that’s all this is,” he said.
Hogan addressed the crowd, asserting Madison Square Garden as “Donald Trump’s house” and dismissing accusations of fascism, saying, “I don’t see any Nazis in here.” U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, who is backing Trump’s campaign through his X social platform, joined the stage to chants of “Elon,” expressing his intent to help reduce the federal budget by at least $2 trillion if Trump wins, possibly as part of a new government efficiency commission.
Trump argued that Americans are worse off economically than four years ago and unveiled a tax credit proposal for family caregivers. Highlighting his foreign policy experience, he assured the audience he would avoid wars, adding that, if necessary, the U.S. would “kick China’s ass.”
With over 38 million votes already cast, polls show a close race between Harris and Trump in battleground states. Trump has tied Harris to the current administration’s handling of immigration and the economy, introducing a new slogan: “She broke it, and I promise you I will fix it.”
Despite the U.S. economy performing well compared to other developed countries since the COVID-19 crisis, rising costs of food, housing, and utilities remain a major concern for voters. Meanwhile, Harris has been holding high-profile rallies, including one with Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta and another with Beyonce in Houston. She plans to deliver a defining speech on the National Mall in Washington, contrasting her vision with Trump’s.
Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, held at the 19,500-seat venue, was reportedly sold out, while Harris drew crowds of 30,000 in Houston and 20,000 in Atlanta. When asked about campaign projections, Harris expressed optimism, saying, “The momentum is with us.”
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