Donald Trump hosted a rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden, which was meant to be his final message to voters, but it turned out to be a spectacle that showcased the issues that detract from his critics. With only a week left before the election, speakers made controversial comments about various groups, including Puerto Ricans, Jews, Blacks, and women. Tony Hinchcliffe, a stand-up comic, made a joke about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage” and also made lewd and racist comments about other groups. This comment was immediately criticized by Kamala Harris’ campaign, as she is competing with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.
The Trump campaign, however, took the rare step of distancing itself from Hinchcliffe’s comments. But other speakers also made incendiary remarks during the event. David Rem, Trump’s childhood friend, referred to Harris as “the Antichrist” and “the devil,” while Grant Cardone called her “and her pimp handlers will destroy our country.” These comments reflect Trump’s tone throughout his third White House campaign, where he has often attacked Harris personally and questioned her mental stability and intelligence.
The rally was a surreal spectacle that included a variety of speakers, including former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, TV psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, politicians such as House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congressman Byron Donalds, fellow Republican Elise Stefanik, and an artist who painted a picture of Trump hugging the Empire State Building.
Donald Trump (Via Donald Trump/Twitter)
Trump himself was over two hours late to the event, but when he did take the stage, he repeated familiar lines about foreign policy and immigration, calling for the death penalty for any migrant who kills a US citizen and saying that day one of his presidency would mark the end of the “migrant invasion” of the country. He also proposed a tax credit for family caregivers, which is a new addition to his list of tax cuts aimed at winning over older adults and blue-collar workers.
Throughout the event, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of social media platform X, was a prominent part, introducing Trump’s wife to the stage and praising Trump as “a genius” and “special.” Musk’s presence is notable, given his massive following on social media and his influence on tech and innovation.
