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Allies of Trump make offensive and racist comments as the event at Madison Square Garden gets underway

Amos Simanungkalit · 28 Oct 20246.4K Views

Republican candidate Donald Trump planned to lead a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, but the event opened with allies of the former president making several controversial and offensive remarks.

A long-time New York public figure, Trump aimed to use the iconic venue—known for Knicks games and Billy Joel performances—to deliver his final campaign argument against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Despite New York last supporting a Republican presidential candidate in 1984, Trump hoped for an impactful closing message. "We want to close it out with a beautiful bang," he stated the previous week.

Several introductory speakers reportedly made offensive remarks as they addressed the crowd before Trump’s appearance. Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and Trump's personal attorney, accused Harris of aligning with "terrorists" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and claimed she wanted to welcome Palestinians to the U.S. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe also used controversial language, making crude jokes about Latino culture and calling Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage." This comment sparked backlash, including from Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who shared the remark on Instagram with the caption, "This is what they think of us."

Harris, in a campaign move, visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia earlier that day, urging voters in Pennsylvania—a crucial state—to make their voices heard. She also posted a video promising to "invest in Puerto Rico's future" if elected.

The Harris campaign issued a statement condemning the Madison Square Garden rally, saying it echoed Trump’s “divisive and demeaning rhetoric.” Former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton likened the event to a pro-Nazi rally held at Madison Square Garden in 1939, which Trump dismissed, calling it merely a "Make America Great Again" event.

Amidst these controversies, wrestler Hulk Hogan, speaking at the rally, declared that Madison Square Garden was now “Donald Trump’s house” and rejected claims that Trump is fascist: "I don’t see any Nazis in here."

With Election Day just over a week away, polls indicate that Trump and Harris are running close in key battleground states. Already, over 38 million Americans have cast their ballots. Trump has centered his recent attacks on Harris, connecting her to the Biden administration’s record on immigration and the economy. Last week, he introduced a new critique: "She broke it, and I promise you I will fix it."

While the U.S. economy has seen growth since the COVID-19 crisis, inflation and high prices for essentials remain a concern for many voters who feel the economic direction is uncertain. In contrast, Harris has hosted major events with celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta and Beyonce in Houston, with a large event scheduled on Tuesday in Washington, where she plans to further distinguish her policies from Trump's.

In Philadelphia on Sunday, Harris commented on Trump, saying, "He is full of grievance. He is full of dark language that is about retribution and revenge."

Trump's campaign, which also hosted a Long Island rally in September, claims the Madison Square Garden event was fully booked, with free tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. This rally, drawing media attention in a key market, aims to boost Republican chances in New York’s competitive congressional races, which could influence control of the House of Representatives.

In comparison, Harris attracted around 30,000 people at her Houston event with Beyonce and 20,000 at the Atlanta rally. She told reporters in Philadelphia that she believes "momentum is with us," basing her optimism on campaign insights. She plans to continue her battleground tour, with stops in key states like Wisconsin and Nevada, where she will host additional high-profile events with musical acts.