Trump’s event at Madison Square Garden turns into a rally with crude and racist insults

NEW YORK – Donald Trump staged a rally with crude and racist insults at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, turning what his campaign had advertised as the event where he would deliver his closing message in the final days of the campaign into an illustration of what turns off are critics.

Several speakers crudely insulted Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who was vying to become the first woman and Black woman to win the presidency. And a stand-up comedian made lewd and racist comments about Latinos, Jews and black people, all key constituencies in the election just nine days away.

‘I don’t know if you know this, but there is literally a floating waste island in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” said comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, whose joke was immediately criticized by Harris’ campaign as competing with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.

Trump’s childhood friend David Rem called Harris “the antichrist” and “the devil.” Businessman Grant Cardone told the crowd that Harris “and her pimp handlers will destroy our country.”

The event was a surreal spectacle, with a lineup including House Speaker Mike Johnson, TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and someone who painted a picture of Trump hugging the Empire State Building.

And that was all before the Republican presidential nominee was scheduled to take the stage, at least two hours late.

Many of the speakers appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention on Sunday. This time the same speakers shouted and rants even more at the Democrats.

Hogan, who returned to the venue where he performed as a professional wrestler years ago, appeared to reprise his character, emerging wearing a giant red, orange and yellow boa and violently waving a large American flag as he posed and danced. He spat on stage during his speech, flexed his muscles repeatedly and told the audience, “Trump is the only man who can fix this country today.”

While some Democrats and pundits have questioned Trump’s decision to hold what they dismiss as a vanity event in his hometown, the rally guarantees Trump what he craves most: the spotlight, wall-to-wall coverage and a national audience.

The final message he will deliver on Sunday, according to his campaign, is that Harris “broke” the country and that Trump will “fix it.” Rallygoers waved signs with the words “Trump will fix it” hours in advance.

Some Democrats, who claim Trump is a “fascist,” have likened his event on Sunday to a pro-Nazi rally at the Garden in February 1939. Several speakers on Sunday criticized Hillary Clinton, the Democrat who was defeated by Trump eight years ago. defeated, torn because she recently said Trump would “reenact” the 1939 event.

“Hey guys, they’re scrambling now and trying to call us Nazis and fascists,” said Alina Habba, one of Trump’s lawyers, who draped a sparkly “MAGA” jacket over the lectern as she spoke. ‘And do you know what they say, boys? It’s very scary. They claim we are going after them and trying to put them in jail. Well, isn’t that rich?’

Hogan declared in his trademark raspy growl, “I don’t see any stinkin’ Nazis here.”

Trump has dismissed the four criminal charges against him as politically motivated. He has stepped up his charges in recent weeks against “enemies from within,” naming domestic political rivals and suggesting he would use the military to go after them. Harris, in turn, has done so called Trump a “fascist.”

The arena was packed for hours before Trump was scheduled to speak. Outside the arena, the sidewalks were packed with Trump supporters wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats. There was a heavy security presence. Streets were closed and access to Penn Station was restricted.

In the crowd was Philip D’Agostino, a longtime Trump supporter from Queens, the neighborhood where Trump grew up. The 64-year-old said it was appropriate for Trump to speak at a venue that bills itself as “the most famous arena in the world.”

“It just goes to show you that he has a bigger following than any man who ever lived,” D’Agostino said.

The rally is part of a series of detours Trump has made from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California — best known for the famed music festival named after the city — and a May rally at the Jersey Shore . This summer he campaigned in the South Bronx.

To reach them, Trump has spent hours on popular podcasts. His campaign has spawned viral moments, such as his visit last weekend to a McDonald’s restaurant, where he made fries and served supporters through the drive-thru window. The video of the stop posted by his campaign has been viewed more than 40 million times on TikTok alone.

Harris has also traveled to non-battleground states for major events designed to spread a national message. She appeared in Houston on Friday with music superstar Beyoncé to speak about reproductive rights and will deliver her own closing argument on Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, where Trump spoke ahead of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Trump will be joined at the rally by supporters including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost his campaign.

Trump often compares himself to the country’s biggest entertainers. The former reality TV star has long talked about wanting to hold a gathering at the venue in interviews and private conversations.

Besides the national spotlight and the allure of appearing on one of the world’s most famous stages, Republicans in the state say the rally will also help debase the candidates. New York is home to a handful of competitive congressional races that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives next year.

Trump will also use the stop as a big fundraising opportunity, as he is still seriously behind Harris in the money race.

New York hasn’t voted for a Republican as president in forty years. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from insisting he believes he can win.

Trump routinely uses his hometown as a foil for audiences in other states, painting a dark vision of the city that bears little resemblance to reality. He calls it a crime-ridden area overrun by violent immigrant gangs that have taken over Fifth and Madison Avenues and occupied Times Square.

Trump has a complicated history with the place where he built his business empire that made him a tabloid and reality TV star. Residents charged him last year with 34 counts of falsifying company records. He was found guilty in that case and also held liable in civil court for corporate fraud and sexual abuse.

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