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“Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump headlined a rally at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sunday… Trump spoke repeatedly about his plans to halt illegal immigration and deport migrants he described as ‘vicious and bloodthirsty criminals’ if he wins the Nov. 5 election…
“A long list of opening speakers varied widely from former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr… Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe used crass language in joking that Latinos ‘love making babies’ and called the Caribbean U.S. territory of Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’… Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, told Reuters that the joke about Puerto Rico ‘does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.’” Reuters
The left criticizes the rally, arguing that numerous speakers made offensive and racist comments.
“David Rem, a childhood friend of Trump’s, called Kamala Harris ‘the Antichrist,’ in what may have actually been the least offensive attack in the entirety of the six-hour rally. Businessman Grant Cardone insinuated the vice president was a ‘prostitute,’ while radio host Sid Rosenberg called her husband a ‘crappy Jew.’ Tucker Carlson said she had ‘Samoan Malaysian low IQ’…
“In the lead-up to the rally, social media was full of reminders that the American Nazi Party had held an infamous event in Madison Square Garden’s predecessor in 1939. The Trump rally lived up to that billing. It was a closing argument of unvarnished bigotry and hate, one that showed that the MAGA movement has become so much bigger than the man who founded it.”
Alex Shephard, New Republic
“The comparison to the Nazis is somewhat overheated — there are important differences, after all, between right-wing authoritarian movements and right-wing authoritarian movements bent on genocidal conquest… [But] Trump has supplied overwhelming evidence of his racist and authoritarian tendencies…
“His consistent belief is that immigrants from non-white countries can never be full Americans, which is why he lashes out at a ‘Mexican judge’ and insists Americans whose parents immigrated from Africa have no right to criticize leaders in ‘our country.’ He has never applied this ultra-nationalist logic to immigrants like Elon Musk (even when Musk was a Trump critic) or his wife, Melania.”
Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine
“Though Trump’s 2016 run was controversial for many good reasons, even that was a far cry from the joyless, ugly campaign he has run this year: one devoid of any serious policy solutions to the many, many crises plaguing the country and that has instead been consumed with dark promises of revenge, punishment, and cruelty…
“If this is what Trump and the people around him are saying when they only think they’re going to win, you can imagine what they’ll feel encouraged to say and do if they actually do, let alone the kind of nastiness that will ripple throughout society. Trump’s comparatively moderate 2016 campaign already led to a spike in open racism and violence… The rally is an ominous preview of the kind of impact a potential Trump win next week may have not just on the US political landscape but on the culture more broadly.”
Branko Marcetic, Jacobin Magazine
The right defends the rally, arguing that the mood was joyous and attendees were an ethnically diverse mix.
The right defends the rally, arguing that the mood was joyous and attendees were an ethnically diverse mix.
“Contrary to reports painting the event as a gathering of racism, rage, and misogyny, I observed a crowd brimming with joy and camaraderie. Ears ringing from all the chants of ‘USA! USA! USA!,’ I left the venue reflecting on Trump’s latest slogan: ‘Make America Dream Again.’ And, I have to admit, for the first time in a long time, it felt like better days might still be possible…
“It’s as if there were two rallies for Trump on Sunday night: one for those who love him and one for those who hate him…
“If you’re not careful, dismissing the other side – as so many do of Trump –devolves into dismissing his supporters and fence sitters as well. This alienation will cause those voters to dig in their heels, making it clear that they don’t believe the other side will ever be their champion. By closing off the chance to earn their votes, the left is reinforcing the very divide they claim to hope to bridge.”
Lee Hartley Carter, Fox News
“If you can’t beat em, smear em — and anyone who is voting for them. That’s the prevailing motto of the panicked Dems, who are projecting Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally through some evil Nazi funhouse mirror… The crowd was as ethnically diverse as a Bennetton ad, if a Bennetton ad featured loads of religious Jews (again, not skilled at doing Nazi stuff)…
“The crowd was amped up like it was fight night at MSG – and for them, it was. That was the [unofficial] rally theme: invoking Trump’s famous call to ‘fight’ after he was shot in the ear back in July. But to quote the Hulkster: ‘I don’t see no stinkin’ Nazis here.’ Just passionate, peaceful, mostly middle class people hoping for a better life [for] themselves – and their families. People the Democrats used to welcome with open arms.”
Kirsten Fleming, New York Post
“While I agree that [Hinchcliffe’s] jokes were tasteless and not particularly funny (they didn’t even seem to land among the MAGA audience), I am skeptical that they will make any difference… Trump has benefitted throughout his political career from being the one to dominate the news cycle, for better or worse…
“At this point, voters arguably have a better sense of Donald Trump based on his words and actions than of any presidential candidate in history. My guess is that if you lived through the 2016 election, his presidency, January 6, and the current campaign, and are still considering voting for him, then you won’t be swayed because of an offensive joke from a warm-up act.”
Philip Klein, National Review
