Trump's fiery NYC rally: Insults, war warnings, and surprise guest
At the end of the presidential campaign, Donald Trump interrupted his tour of swing states to appear in New York City. The Republican candidate's rally attracted more attendees than available seats at Madison Square Garden. The former president once again indulged in insulting Kamala Harris and warning of World War III and immigration issues.
2:46 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
The resolution of the presidential elections in the U.S. is rapidly approaching. Everything indicates that the fight will last until the end, as a few votes may decide the outcome.
Although the main battle is being fought in the so-called swing states, where election results are uncertain, Donald Trump decided to meet with voters in New York City. The former president's Sunday rally took place in the world's most famous entertainment venue, Madison Square Garden.
Trump insults Harris and warns of war
Trump issued a warning to his supporters about the implications if his opponent were to win, suggesting that Harris, whom he described as lacking intelligence, would escalate the nation toward World War III and bring back the military draft.
He cautioned that young Americans would soon receive draft notices, prompting them to ask their parents about the unexpected call to serve in unfamiliar countries.
He further alleged that both Harris and Biden are controlled by insidious forces—a vague group he described as "domestic enemies" more threatening than foreign adversaries.
According to Trump, his supporters have been battling these corrupt influences for nearly a decade, and he urged them to use their votes to reclaim the country. He also sharply criticized Harris, calling her a "radically left-wing extremist" and saying, "Kamala, you’re fired!"
Unexpected guest on stage
The real surprise was the appearance of Melania Trump on stage. The former president's wife, seeking re-election, usually does not speak publicly. However, she broke this rule during the rally in New York City.
"New York City and America needs their magic back," she said, encouraging people to vote for her husband.
More interest than available seats
Tens of thousands of people attended the rally in New York City, which was likely the largest of the current campaign. Many people could not get into Madison Square Garden and watched Trump on outdoor screens or in nearby bars.
In the speeches of Trump's supporters, there was no shortage of extreme and sometimes racist rhetoric. Trump's friend David Rem called Kamala Harris "the antichrist" and the devil, while businessman Grant Cardone claimed that "she and her pimps will ruin the country" and expressed the belief that Democrats must be "slaughtered" in the elections.
Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson suggested that Harris's potential win might be a fluke and mocked her heritage, describing her as "the first Samoan, Malaysian, low IQ former California prosecutor" (in reality, Harris has Indian and Jamaican roots).
Offended many people
Perhaps the most controversy was sparked by the opening act of right-wing comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, known from the podcast "Kill Tony".
Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico — a U.S.-affiliated territory — "the floating island of garbage," claimed that Latinos "love making babies," and used stereotypes about African Americans and Jews in his jokes.
His words about Puerto Rico were condemned not only by Harris and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz but also by Republican politicians from Florida, where many Puerto Ricans live.
On Sunday, Harris campaigned in Philadelphia for the votes of island residents, visiting a Puerto Rican restaurant and gaining the endorsement of two music stars from the territory: Ricky Martin and rapper Bad Bunny. Puerto Ricans comprise about 5 percent of Pennsylvania's population, considered the most important of the key states.
