Donald Trump returns home, to the city where he was born and which has not elected a Republican president for 40 years, to the city that has betrayed him several times and whose Court has convicted him both in civil proceedings for fraud related to the Trump Organization and in criminal proceedings for payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. But he doesn't seem to care. For Trump, the rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, home of the Knicks and Rangers, is more than just an election date, it’s a personal matter, it’s a dream come true, waiting to crown another, namely “conquering the city and the state and making them Republican,” he confesses. “They say it’s impossible, but I don’t believe it.”
What was set up in the most famous sports hall in the world is not a rally, it is a show meant to impress the undecided, to convince voters in swing states rather than New Yorkers. An event that to call over the top would be an understatement. The opportunity to step onto the stage that had previously hosted stars like Billy Joel and Elton John was an opportunity not to be missed for the former president and his past as a television showman. Part of American political history was built in the arena: Marilyn Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' to a 45-year-old John Fitzgerald Kennedy there and Bill Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination there in 1992. In 1939, Madison Square Garden also hosted a rally in support of Adolf Hitler (“I would like to have his generals,” the tycoon said last week). In front of his audience, Trump is at ease, evidently satisfied with the success of the evening, which saw among its protagonists Elon Musk, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Hulk Hogan, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Hers was the speech that sparked the most controversy because of her attack on Puerto Rico, called it a “floating garbage island” that prompted many famous Puerto Ricans, including singers Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin, to react by giving their support to Harris. Also present on stage Melania Trump, in one of her very rare appearances alongside her husband. “The King of New York is back to take back what he built,” said Donald Trump Jr., referring to his father’s past as a builder.
What Trump Said in New York
Verbal violence, fake news spiced with a bit of racism reigned supreme in an evening that was a celebration for Trump. “I am here today with a message of hope: with your vote I will end inflation, I will bring back the American dream”, the former president assured. “We are ahead in all the swing states and in nine days we will conquer the White House,” he added.
Then the very harsh attack on Kamala Harris: she “destroyed the country. Our enemies laugh at her, they want her to win,” he said, turning against her the same words that the Democratic candidate had addressed to him during the first and last televised debate between the two.
The vice president – she added – “has imported criminals from prisons around the world, from Venezuela to Congo”. But with me – he assured – the invasion will end: “now we are an occupied country. In nine days”, on Election Day, “it will be the liberation“. Harris has a “low IQ” and with his “incompetence he will lead us to World War III”.
“You are the enemy of the people: you Dems are internal enemies more dangerous than those of foreign countries. You have destroyed the country. But I I will rebuild the American dream”, the former president then said, closing with a striking phrase “New York is devastated, I will save it together with America. Kamala Harris, you're fired".
Trump's speech, which started more than two hours late, lasted 78 minutes, and by the end some of the audience had already left.
