Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night featured a mix of sharp critiques and inflammatory remarks from speakers and Trump himself, just over a week from the upcoming election. The event, held in New York City’s iconic venue, included racially charged language and calls for aggressive immigration measures, sparking immediate backlash from Democratic opponents.
As Trump addressed the crowd, he repeated his promise to implement what he described as “the largest deportation program in American history,” vowing to target what he referred to as “the enemy within.” Trump also commented on his phone call with an unnamed “very, very important person,” claiming he cut the call short to watch a SpaceX rocket launch by Elon Musk.
The rally’s tone grew darker with the presence of Trump’s campaign surrogates, some of whom stirred controversy with remarks on various issues, including Puerto Rico and Vice President Kamala Harris. Comparisons to the infamous 1939 Nazi rally at the same venue surfaced, with Trump critics, including Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz, noting the event’s parallels to the German American Bund’s pro-Hitler gathering at Madison Square Garden.
In his speech, Trump reiterated familiar themes on immigration, pledging to escalate deportations if elected and claiming that New York City was overrun by “illegal immigrants,” allegedly housed in “luxury apartments” while military veterans suffer. His narrative included sensationalized comments about a “savage Venezuelan prison gang” supposedly overtaking Times Square, a claim at odds with current reports of crime trends in the area. Trump suggested that the Biden administration lacked resources to aid hurricane-stricken North Carolina due to excessive spending on immigration.
Additionally, Trump’s message emphasized his “law and order” stance, vowing to address what he called a “radical-left machine” if re-elected. “We’re not just running against Kamala,” he told supporters, “but against a massive, vicious radical-left machine that runs today’s Democrat party.”
The rally’s combative tone extended to the evening’s other speakers, with one podcaster, Tony Hinchliffe, making disparaging remarks about Puerto Rico, labeling the US territory “an island of garbage” and making inappropriate comments about Latina women. These comments, which quickly circulated on social media, drew a swift rebuke from Puerto Rican popstar Ricky Martin, who urged followers to vote for Kamala Harris in response.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez distanced the campaign from Hinchliffe’s remarks, asserting that they “do not reflect the views of President Trump.” Nonetheless, the comments may have political consequences, particularly in Pennsylvania, where a substantial number of Latino voters are of Puerto Rican descent. Harris herself had spent the day visiting a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, discussing plans to promote economic opportunities for Puerto Rico.
Among the other controversial speakers was Tucker Carlson, who made comments mocking Vice President Harris’s racial identity, and radio personality Sid Rosenberg, who insulted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Another speaker, Trump’s childhood friend David Rem, held a crucifix as he referred to Harris as “the antichrist” and announced his candidacy for New York City mayor.
The timing and location of Trump’s rally drew comparisons to the notorious 1939 Nazi rally, with critics highlighting the historical context of hosting such an event at Madison Square Garden. The 1939 rally, hosted by the pro-Hitler German American Bund, was a spectacle of Aryan nationalism, with swastika flags and speeches lauding white supremacy. Hillary Clinton, speaking to CNN last week, also noted the comparison, and Walz reiterated it at a rally in Nevada on Sunday. Walz remarked that the Trump campaign was likely aware of the implications of hosting a rally at Madison Square Garden so close to the election.
Responding to these comparisons, Trump campaign officials condemned Clinton’s remarks as “disgusting.” Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, who appeared at the rally, alluded to the controversy, saying, “I don’t see no stinkin’ Nazis in here,” drawing laughs from the crowd as he struggled to tear his shirt in a nod to his wrestling persona.
As the rally came to a close, Trump intensified his rhetoric, calling New York City a “rat-infested haven” and accusing the Biden administration of forcing “hundreds of thousands of really rough people” into the city. Despite his troubled relationship with New York, Trump’s appearance marked his third rally in the city this year, following campaign stops in the Bronx and Long Island, where he sought support among Black and Latino voters.
With the election looming, Trump’s rhetoric and the controversial rally underscored his combative stance and his focus on issues like immigration, though his divisive language and fiery rhetoric continue to spark debate.
