Donald Trump graced the stage with wife Melania as 20,000 fans packed Madison Square Garden for a marathon five-hour MAGA rally on Sunday.
The former president made a bold prediction that he would become the first Republican in 40 years to win New York while warning that a ‘gamble’ on Kamala Harris would cost ‘millions of lives’ during the event in the heart of Manhattan.
The 78-year-old Trump was introduced to adoring fans by the former first lady, who made a surprise appearance, her first on the campaign trail. Trump rocked the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’ with his often-repeated attacks on Harris’ border policies and rising crime.
The line-up of speakers included Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who sparked controversy by calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage’.
Trump childhood buddy David Rem delivered a fiery speech while waving a crucifix and calling the vice president the ‘antichrist.’
‘She is the devil … She is the anti-Christ. At her rally last week, she said that Jesus Christ’s followers are not welcomed at her rallies,’ Rem said.
Businessman Grant Cardone also raised eyebrows by saying Harris and her ‘pimp handlers’ would ‘destroy the country’.
After hours of anticipation, the crowd roared as Trump was brought on stage by his wife calling him the ‘next commander-in-chief’.
Trump was reflective as he shared his love for New York, the city where he grew up and made his name as a real estate mogul and TV star.
But he blasted Democrats who he claimed have made the Big Apple – and the country – unrecognizable.
Trump also doesn’t think he is wasting his time or campaign funds by rallying in liberal New York City with just nine days until the 2024 election.
He said the deep blue state is winnable, despite voters opting for Democrats in every presidential race since 1988.
To underscore the significance of the rally, Melania shocked fans by making her first appearance on the campaign trail.
From the stage at the iconic Manhattan arena, former President Trump vowed to return New York City to its former glory.
‘We want to win our country, but we also want to win New York and make it safe and strong and beautiful and affordable and vibrant again,’ Trump said.
‘When I left, New York was the place you wanted to be and now people just don’t speak well of it. But we’re going to bring it back. And we’re going to bring it back strong,’ he assured.
Trump made his final pitch to New Yorkers to cast their ballot for him as early voting kicked off in the Empire State on Saturday.
Sunday’s massive rally with more than 20,000 supporters in attendance kicked off the ex-president’s closing argument: Kamala Harris broke it, but Trump will fix it.
‘I hope you go out and vote,’ Trump said toward the end of his more than hour-long remarks.
‘It would be such an honor to win New York,’ he continued. ‘Hasn’t been done in decades, hasn’t been done in so long. It hasn’t been done in so long.’
‘They all say, ‘sir you’re wasting your money.’ I don’t think so,’ the optimistic candidate said.
Trump completely filled up Madison Square Garden on Sunday for a rally with just over a week to go.
‘The king of New York is back to reclaim the city that he built,’ the former president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr. declared on stage at the renowned Manhattan venue.
Red, white and blue lights surrounded the entire arena where more than 20,000 people gathered to hear the former president launch his closing argument in the last week of his campaign for a second term.
Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk ended his remarks with his surprise introduction of Melania, which sent the crowd into an uproar.
‘New York City and America needs their magic back,’ she said in her five-minute remarks, that concluded with her preparing the audience for her husband.
Melania flashed a big smile when former President Trump came on stage to a live performance of his walk-out song ‘God Bless America’ by Lee Greenwood.
The couple hugged and exchanged kisses on the cheek as they listened to Greenwood’s performance and applauded the musician.
Melania went to the Republican National Convention in July with the rest of the family but didn’t speak.
Trump’s middle son Eric Trump claimed there were 200,000 people trying to get into the arena for the rally.
‘We’re going to win!’ he declared on stage alongside wife and Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump.
Lara said that Trump is at Madison square Garden because he goes where others don’t.
‘Does anybody know the last time a Republican president campaigned in The Bronx? It was Ronald Reagan and, ladies and gentleman, he turned New York red. I’m just saying,’ the co-chair said.
Trump pulled out all the stops for the rally that GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik claims he has ‘been talking about for years.’
More than a dozen speakers took stage in the hours ahead of Trump’s arrival. This included a list of politicians, lawmakers, celebrities and lifelong friends of the 2024 Republican hopeful.
And the resounding theme among the preprogram speakers was that New York is winnable for the former president – even though the deep blue state has voted for Democrats for decades and polling shows no indication Trump can win it.
The first speaker of the night kicked off the rally on a controversial foot.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referenced the ‘floating island of garbage’ in the ocean that environmentalists point to as a massive problem. But he said that was actually just Puerto Rico.
The line earned condemnation from Puerto Rican celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin.
‘This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,’ a Trump spokesperson said in a statement to the media.
Lawmakers and politicians who spoke before Trump’s arrival also countered arguments that Trump shouldn’t be spending time in New York City so close to Election Day on November 5.
‘I don’t follow polls, but I do follow energy. This does not feel like second place energy in here tonight,’ said Vivek Ramaswamy.
The biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate said a friend asked him: ‘Why the hell are you guys wasting your time in New York City instead of going to a swing state?’
‘Welcome to 2024 — New York is a swing state,’ Ramaswamy declared.
And supporters lined up outside the arena on Sunday agree that New York is in play.
‘I think in 2016 people said there’s no way Donald Trump would ever win the United States, it’s never going to happen. New York is, in a lot of ways, a mirror culturally of what’s going on,’ Michael Rydelek, 27, told DailyMail.com.
‘And just as crazy as the win in 2016 was, I think we’re looking at the same thing in 2024,’ the Rockland County native speculated. ‘You have a lot of people in New York City that are aware something needs to change and willing to go forth with that change. New York City’s a big part of that equation.’
‘People say, ‘why is Trump at Madison Square Garden?’ Well he’s making a play for New York,’ Rydelek added.
Television personality Dr. Phil surprised the crowd by speaking at the rally and introducing Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio).
The celebrity doctor admitted: ‘I don’t like or agree with everything Trump says or does… you don’t have to love everything about someone in order to love them.’
‘And the last thing he needs is some celebrity endorsement. What the hell do I know? I know I’m no celebrity to begin with. And celebrities know nothing about policy or politics,’ Dr. Phil said. ‘So, why am I here? I’m here to talk to and stand up for the people who have declared their support for Donald Trump.’
Dr. Phil, whose full name is Phillip McGraw, said that anyone who says what he is saying in Hollywood would be out of a job.
‘The problem is, I don’t need one,’ the psychologist concluded.
Dr. Phil joined a stacked lineup of celebrities that came out to back Trump.
UFC icon Hulk Hogan ripped off his shirt before taking the mic with his bicep muscles revealed in his pro-Trump tank top.
And just a few speakers later, UFC CEO Dana White spoke on behalf of Trump.