Racist Jokes and F-Bombs at Trump’s MSG Rally: Live Updates

Trump’s speech at the Madison Square Garden rally starts at 5 p.m., but who knows if that’s true.

Maggie Haberman goes through the various arguments for Trump Bringing MAGA to MSG with just over a week before Election Day, including the media blitz it will bring, the opportunity to troll liberals and the city itself — and how it might just be the arena he most wanted to play in:

For years, Mr. Trump measured the significance of his rally locations in part by who had shown up there before. And his touchstones were usually not other politicians, but singers and other celebrities.

“Do you know how many arenas I’ve broken Elton John’s record in?” Trump once asked Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, as he prepared to hold an event during his presidency at North Dakota State University’s Fargodome.

And when he appeared at a rally at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island last month, Mr. Trump proudly noted that Elvis Presley had played there.

Mr. Trump has long wanted to hold a rally at the Garden. It styles itself as “the most famous arena in the world” and has featured some of his favorite artists including Elton John, Frank Sinatra and the Village Peoplewhose song “YMCA” is an important part of his events. (As president, he participated in an Ultimate Fighting Championship match there and entered the arena to a mix of boos and cheersand in 2013, before he was a candidate, he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame there.)

CNN reports that the Trump campaign also expects to make a lot of money:

Sunday’s rally will also serve as one of Trump’s largest fundraisers to date, according to multiple sources familiar with the logistics. Backers have been offered a range of packages, including VIP suites, tickets to an exclusive ‘pre-event’ at the venue, backstage passes and photo opportunities.

“The Trump campaign is going to make an insane amount of money from this event,” a source familiar with the guest list told CNN.

In addition to Trump, 29 other people are listed as speakers and performers. It’s not at all clear how long the rally will have to last to fit them all in, especially if Trump himself ends up going long. Here’s who the Trump campaign says will appear:

• J.D. Vance

• Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson

• Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

• Congressman Byron Donalds

• Former Congressman Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

• Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

• Lara Trump, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.,

• Elon Musk

• Trump adviser Dan Scavino

• Trump adviser Stephen Miller

• UFC CEO Dana White

• Tucker Carlson

• Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute

• Businessman Steve Witkoff

• Businessman Howard Lutnick

• Businessman Grant Cardone

• Right for America PAC founder Sergio Gor

• Death Row Records founder Michael Harris Jr.

• Moms for Liberty founder Tiffany Justice

• Singer Lee Greenwood

• Opera singer Christopher Macchio

• Singer Mary Millben

• Radio jock Sid Rosenberg

• Comedian kills Tony

• “Live painter” Scott Lobaido

• Trump friend David Rem from his youth