On Sunday, Donald Trump is launching the last complete week of the presidential campaign with a rally at Madison Square Garden. He is relying on his flair for performance to draw a crowd to the legendary venue, aiming to generate an event that will be broadcasted on television and mobile devices across all seven key battleground states.
It’s the latest in a line of Trump visits to blue states that has also included a rally in California’s Coachella Valley this month, one on Long Island in the summer and a recent stop for an economic forum in Chicago.
The ex-president is making his way back to New York City, a stronghold for Democrats where Republicans have little hope of victory. However, the growing dissatisfaction among voters and challenges faced by local Democratic leaders might create opportunities for vulnerable Republican incumbents to retain their House seats in the nearby suburbs.
During each campaign stop, Trump is attributing the rise in crime and the increasing influx of migrants to his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, using dehumanizing language.
On Thursday in Las Vegas, he declared that he would save all the towns in America that have been overrun and taken over.
The event at Madison Square Garden continues a long-standing tradition established by previous campaigns. This venue, along with its earlier sites, has a rich political legacy. It has seen presidents like Grover Cleveland, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt grace its stage and has hosted national conventions for both the Republican and Democratic parties, with the last GOP gathering occurring in 2004. Notably, it was also the location of John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration in 1962, where Marilyn Monroe famously sang her legendary tribute to him.
However, the history of Madison Square Garden is marked by its share of controversies. It has hosted numerous contentious events, such as the infamous Pro-American Rally in 1939, which was a pro-Nazi assembly organized by the German American Bund and drew thousands just before World War II. Shortly after this event, the arena was filled with attendees at a Communist Party rally. In 1968, George Wallace, who had previously served as Alabama’s segregationist governor, delivered a law-and-order speech at the Garden just days before the presidential election; he ultimately garnered nearly 10 million votes and secured victories in five states as a third-party candidate.
For Trump, the event on Sunday represents more than merely a campaign appearance; it holds significant personal importance for him as well. The former president has repeatedly expressed his eagerness to perform at the iconic venue in Midtown Manhattan. His name is expected to be featured on a marquee that has frequently showcased renowned artists such as Billy Joel, Elton John, and other iconic performers.
New York continues to be a solidly Democratic state, despite Trump’s claims, both in private and public, that he believes he has a chance to win there. His campaign team recognizes that this notion is unlikely to come true.
We believe there is a possibility of winning New York for the first time in many decades. Given the current situation with migrants significantly impacting the city and even the entire state, we see a genuine opportunity, he stated during an appearance on Fox News Radio. The last Republican presidential candidate to win New York was Ronald Reagan in 1984.
It has also been more than two decades since a Republican won a statewide election in New York – the most recent being former Gov. George Pataki when he won a third term in 2002.
However, Republicans have expressed some hope that the event could help bolster vulnerable New York GOP lawmakers vying to hold on to their House seats come November. Several of them joined Trump at a tele-rally Saturday hosted by New York Rep. Elise Stefanik – the No. 4 House Republican – to push early voting. Some also appeared at Trump’s September event at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
Nonetheless, none of them appear on the list of speakers published by the Trump campaign for the rally at Madison Square Garden.
According to various sources familiar with the arrangements, the rally on Sunday is set to be one of Trump’s biggest fundraising events so far. Contributors have been presented with a range of options, which include VIP suites, access to a special pre-event at the location, backstage passes, and chances for photographs.
A well-informed insider has revealed that the Trump campaign is poised to rake in an impressive sum of money from this event.
A large number of Republican officials, supporters, financial backers, and notable figures are anticipated to be present. According to the Trump campaign, the lineup of speakers at the rally will feature former Vice President Mike Pence, Ohio Senator JD Vance, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, ex-independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson, Elise Stefanik, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
A source close to Trump said there are systems in place to stop Trump critics from signing up for tickets without any intention of showing up, something some allies expressed concerned over.
An individual familiar with Trump revealed that measures have been implemented to prevent those who criticize him from registering for tickets without the genuine intent to attend, a concern raised by some of his supporters.
While Trump will not be present in any of the seven key states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that both campaigns believe will determine the result of the election on November 5, his team anticipates that the rally on Sunday will attract significant media attention.
According to a campaign advisor, New York City stands as the largest media market globally and serves as the focal point for everything.