NEW YORK –
Donald Trump took the stage Sunday night time at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard to ship his marketing campaign’s closing argument with the election 9 days away after a number of of his allies used crude and racist insults towards U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and different critics of the previous president.
The Republican nominee started by asking the identical questions he’s requested initially of each latest rally: “Are you higher off now than you have been 4 years in the past?” The gang responded with a powerful “No!”
“This election is a alternative between whether or not we’ll have 4 extra years of gross incompetence and failure, or whether or not we’ll start the best years within the historical past of our nation,” he stated after being launched by his spouse, Melania Trump, whose uncommon shock look comes after she has been largely absent on the marketing campaign path.
A number of audio system earlier on Sunday crudely insulted Harris, who’s vying to grow to be the primary girl and Black girl to win the presidency. And a humorist made lewd and racist feedback about Latinos, Jews and Black folks, all key constituencies within the election simply 9 days away.
“I don’t know in case you guys know this, however there’s actually a floating island of rubbish in the midst of the ocean proper now. I believe it’s referred to as Puerto Rico,” stated comic Tony Hinchcliffe, whose joke was instantly criticized by Harris’ marketing campaign because it competes with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and different swing states. Shortly after Hinchcliffe’s look, music celebrity Dangerous Bunny, who’s from Puerto Rico, endorsed Harris.
Trump’s childhood buddy David Rem, in the meantime, referred to Harris as “the Antichrist” and “the satan.” Businessman Grant Cardone instructed the group that Harris ”and her pimp handlers will destroy our nation.” And former Fox Information host Tucker Carlson referred to as Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, “a Samoan, Malaysian, low-IQ former California prosecutor.”
Scott Lobaido unveils a portray earlier than Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks at a marketing campaign rally at Madison Sq. Backyard, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Evan Vucci/AP Photograph)
Trump’s closing argument turns to spectacle
The occasion was a surreal spectacle, turning what his marketing campaign had marketed because the occasion the place he would ship his closing message within the marketing campaign’s last days to an illustration of what turns off his critics. The lineup included Home Speaker Mike Johnson, TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, former skilled wrestler Hulk Hogan, and somebody who painted an image of Trump hugging the Empire State Constructing.
And that was all earlier than the Republican presidential nominee took the stage greater than two hours late.
Trump on Sunday added a brand new proposal to his checklist of tax cuts aimed toward successful over older adults and blue-collar employees, which already contains vows to finish taxes on Social Safety advantages, ideas and additional time pay: A tax credit score for household caregivers.
This comes after Harris has talked concerning the “sandwich technology” of adults caring for growing old dad and mom whereas elevating their youngsters on the identical time. Harris has proposed federal funding to cowl dwelling care prices for older People.
Trump in any other case repeated acquainted strains about international coverage and immigration, calling for the loss of life penalty for any migrant who kills a U.S. citizen and saying that the day he takes workplace, “The migrant invasion of our nation ends.”
The rally was an amped-up model of the RNC
Most of the audio system Sunday appeared on stage on the Republican Nationwide Conference. This time, the identical audio system shouted and railed extra in opposition to Democrats.
Hogan, returning to the venue the place he carried out years in the past as knowledgeable wrestler, appeared to reprise his character, rising sporting a large crimson, orange and yellow boa and violently waving a big American flag as he posed and danced. He spat on the stage throughout his speech, flexed his muscle mass repeatedly and instructed the viewers: “Trump is the one man that may repair this nation immediately.”
Hulk Hogan rips his shirt at a marketing campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Sq. Backyard, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photograph)
Whereas some Democrats and pundits have questioned Trump’s determination to carry what they dismiss as a conceit occasion in his hometown, the rally ensures Trump what he most craves: the highlight, wall-to-wall protection and a nationwide viewers.
The closing message he’ll ship Sunday, in response to his marketing campaign, is that Harris “broke” the nation and that Trump “will repair it.” Rallygoers hours beforehand waved indicators with the phrases “Trump will repair it.”
Some Democrats, arguing that Trump is a “fascist,” have in contrast his Sunday occasion to a pro-Nazi rally on the Backyard in February 1939. A number of audio system on Sunday ripped Hillary Clinton, the Democrat defeated by Trump eight years in the past, for saying lately that Trump can be “reenacting” the 1939 occasion.
“Hey guys, they’re now scrambling and making an attempt to name us Nazis and fascists,” stated Alina Habba, considered one of Trump’s attorneys, who draped a shiny “MAGA” jacket over the lectern as she spoke. “And you realize what they’re claiming, guys? It’s extremely scary. They’re claiming we will go after them and try to put them in jail. Properly, ain’t that wealthy?”
Declared Hogan in his attribute raspy growl: “I do not see no stinkin’ Nazis in right here.”
Trump has denounced the 4 legal indictments introduced in opposition to him as politically motivated. He has ramped up his denunciations in latest weeks of “enemies from inside,” naming home political rivals, and urged he would use the navy to go after them. Harris, in flip, has referred to as Trump a “fascist.”
The sector was full hours earlier than Trump was scheduled to talk. Exterior the sector, the sidewalks have been overflowing with Trump supporters in crimson “Make America Nice Once more” hats. There was a heavy safety presence. Streets have been blocked off and entry to Penn Station was restricted.
Within the crowd was Philip D’Agostino, a longtime Trump backer from Queens, the borough the place Trump grew up. The 64-year-old stated it was acceptable for Trump to be talking at a spot payments itself as “the world’s most well-known area.”
“It simply goes to point out ya that he has a much bigger following of any man that has ever lived,” D’Agostino stated.
A New Yorker returns dwelling
New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. However that hasn’t stopped Trump from persevering with to insist he believes he can win.
Trump routinely makes use of his hometown as a foil earlier than audiences in different states, portray a darkish imaginative and prescient of town that bears little resemblance to actuality. He’s solid it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who’ve taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Instances Sq..
Trump has a sophisticated historical past with the place the place he constructed his enterprise empire and that made him a tabloid and actuality TV star. Its residents indicted him final yr on 34 felony counts of falsifying enterprise information. He was discovered responsible in that case, and in addition discovered liable in civil courtroom for enterprise fraud and sexual abuse.
Video boards exterior Madison Sq. Backyard show details about the marketing campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photograph)
The rally is considered one of a collection of detours Trump has constituted of battleground states, together with a latest rally in Coachella, California — finest recognized for the well-known music competition named after the city — and one in Could on the Jersey Shore. This summer time he campaigned within the South Bronx.
To succeed in them, Trump has spent hours showing on standard podcasts. And his marketing campaign has labored to create viral moments like his go to final weekend to a McDonald’s restaurant, the place he made fries and served supporters by means of the drive-thru window. Video of the cease posted by his marketing campaign has been seen greater than 40 million occasions on TikTok alone.
Harris has additionally traveled to non-battleground states for main occasions supposed to drive a nationwide message. She appeared in Houston Friday with music celebrity Beyoncé to discuss reproductive rights, and can ship her personal closing argument Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, the place Trump spoke forward of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump will likely be joined on the rally by supporters together with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to spice up his marketing campaign.
Trump typically compares himself to the nation’s biggest entertainers. The previous actuality TV star has lengthy talked about wanting to carry a rally on the venue in interviews and personal conversations.
Past the nationwide highlight and the enchantment of showing on one of many world’s most well-known levels, Republicans within the state say the rally will even assist down-ballot candidates. New York is dwelling to a handful of aggressive congressional races that might decide which celebration controls the Home subsequent yr.
Trump will even use the cease as a serious fundraising alternative as he continues to noticeably lag Harris within the cash race.
