Trump’s election campaign in New York
Melania surprises with an appearance – comedian causes outrage
Updated 10/28/2024 – 2:56 amReading time: 3 minutes
At a major campaign event in New York, Donald Trump appeared combative. His wife Melania surprised the crowd with a rare public appearance.
Just over a week before the US presidential election, Donald Trump appeared on Sunday at a closing event in the famous Madison Square Garden in New York. The Republican appeared combative during the appearance. “I want to start with a very simple question. Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” Trump asked at the beginning of his speech. The crowd responded with a loud “No.”
Trump promised, if elected on November 5, to stop the “invasion of criminals into our country” and to ban “sanctuary cities” – US cities that protect immigrants from deportation. He wants to deport immigrants with criminal records based on a law from 1798. He was celebrated in the arena for his tough rhetoric against immigrants.
In front of thousands of supporters, the ex-president also sharply attacked his Democratic challenger and current Vice President Kamala Harris. He described her as a “person with a very low IQ.”
With polls showing a neck-and-neck race in key states, Harris said at a campaign appearance in Philadelphia: “He’s full of resentment. He uses dark language that’s tinged with retaliation and revenge.” Trump’s critics have long accused him of promoting racist and divisive rhetoric.
Melania Trump caused a special surprise in New York: The Republican’s wife unexpectedly took the stage and spoke publicly to his supporters for the first time in this election campaign: “New York City and America need the magic back that has shaped this city for generations,” said the former first lady. She called for us to work together for a better future to restore “American greatness.” “Imagine a wonderful America where seeds of security, prosperity and health are sown for our families,” she continued. She then announced her husband as the next “Commander-in-Chief” and greeted him on stage with kisses.
Donald Trump’s appearance was introduced by around 20 speakers, some of whom were controversial, including former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, Tesla founder Elon Musk and former New York mayor and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Some of them made racist and misogynistic comments that inflamed the crowd.
Musk, who Trump says will lead a new government efficiency commission, said the federal budget could be cut by “at least $2 trillion.” Federal spending totaled more than $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024, which ended Sept. 30.
Giuliani falsely claimed that Harris was “on the side of the terrorists” in the Middle East conflict and wanted to bring Palestinians into the country. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said Latinos “love making babies” and called Puerto Rico a “floating garbage island.” Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, those living on the island are not allowed to vote in U.S. elections.
The comments quickly drew strong reactions, primarily from the Democratic Party and prominent representatives of the Puerto Rican community. Kamala Harris’ campaign team reacted immediately and released a video clip of Tony Hinchcliffe’s speech to draw attention to the slurs.
Puerto Rican pop star Bad Bunny also shared the video and voiced his support for Harris’ vision for the island. Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida joined the criticism and defended the Puerto Rican community, writing that the “joke” was neither “funny nor true.”
Trump is likely to lose the presidential election in New York by a landslide. In the state with around 20 million inhabitants – around a quarter of the Federal Republic – no Republican has won since Ronald Reagan in 1984. Democratic incumbent Joe Biden won in 2020 by 23 percentage points, and according to a Siena College poll, Democrat Kamala Harris is now leading by 19 percentage points.