As he walked into Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, the former president paused, absorbing the wild applause of 20,000 groupies who were singing and shouting.
Donald Trump, arguably the world’s greatest showman, had taken his campaign to the world’s biggest stage – ironically, in a city he believes wants to destroy him – to make his final bid for the presidency.
Regarding the metropolis where he still faces sentencing for 34 felony convictions in the Stormy Daniels case, the real estate mogul declared: “I’m back in the city I love.”
His eldest son, Donald Jr, had previously stamped that theme on the roaring MAGA hordes in more spectacular fashion: “The King of New York has returned to reclaim the city he built.”
As he walked into Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, the former president paused, absorbing the wild applause of 20,000 groupies who were singing and shouting.
Certainly, inside and outside the arena, that feeling was being reciprocated.
The streets were packed with tens of thousands of Trump supporters. And those were the ones who didn’t make it to the packed 19,700-seat stadium.
All kinds of MAGA fans had traveled from all over to get to the Big Apple. There were “Jesus for Trump” supporters, “Jews for Trump,” and even a group of “Japanese for Trump.”
While waiting in line, Amy Lee, 62, told me that she had fled communist Vietnam in 1975 and that her husband Covan had been caught 18 times trying to escape before finally joining her in the United States.
This was Lee’s 60th Trump rally and the couple had traveled from San Diego, California. “We don’t take freedom for granted,” he said. ‘We don’t want to lose this country. There is no other place to flee to.
Sue Caddoo, 58, from Putnam County in upstate New York, gushed: “Trump is taking down the deep state and a lot of people don’t realize that a deep state even exists.”
Inside The Garden in midtown Manhattan, the scene of so much combative history, controversy, music, sporting joy and despair, Trump supporters got what they came for…eventually. It takes patience and stamina for a Trump rally.
The five-hour show was a carefully designed and controlled spectacle, rocking the crowd amid showbiz din and speakers who seemed like warm-up acts for warm-up acts.
There were screams and foul-mouthed exclamations, and a comedian who uttered a staggering insult to the 3.2 million Puerto Ricans.
All kinds of MAGA fans had descended on the Big Apple from all over the country. There were “Jesus for Trump” supporters, “Jews for Trump,” and even a group of “Japanese for Trump.”
While waiting in line, 62-year-old Amy Lee (above, right) told me that she had fled communist Vietnam in 1975 and that her husband Covan (left) was caught 18 times trying to escape before finally arriving in the United States. .
Sue Caddoo, 58, from Putnam County in upstate New York, gushed: “Trump is taking down the deep state and a lot of people don’t realize that a deep state even exists.”
The all-star cast included vice presidential candidate JD Vance, Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Trump’s usual family clan, his flamboyant lawyer Alina Habba, former New York mayor Rudy Guiliani and even fallen former Fox host News, Tucker Carlson.
Trump’s senior adviser Dan Scavino was the first to deny the parallels drawn by Democrats, comparing the rally to a Nazi gathering at The Garden in 1939.
Retired WWF wrestler Hulk Hogan did the same but in a more direct way. He burst onto the stage wearing a fluorescent red boa and ripped off his shirt to his thumping ‘Real American’ soundtrack, declaring: “I don’t see any stinking Nazis here.”
Failed presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy delivered an agitational performance that included promising to oust “three million deep state bureaucrats.”
And Musk, who has donated a staggering $119 million to help Trump win the White House, was naturally exuberant with undertones of an excited schoolboy. He claimed he could save the country $2 trillion with a “government efficiency department.”
But the event fell almost silent in the opening minutes when controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joked: “There is literally a floating island of rubbish in the ocean.” I think it’s called Puerto Rico.
Retired WWF wrestler Hulk Hogan burst onto the stage wearing a fluorescent red boa and ripped off his shirt to his ‘Real American’ soundtrack, declaring: ‘I don’t see any stinking Nazis here.’
Adrian Amonta of Brooklyn and Daniella Perez of Queens at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2024
The comments sparked fury in many quarters, including from Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin and a rare rebuke from Team Trump, which is often so reluctant to admit its mistakes.
The man finally left shortly before 7:15 pm, more than two hours late and introduced by his wife Melania, who surprised the audience with a surprise appearance, shining on stage in a zebra-print dress.
It was the first campaign rally the former First Lady appeared at this year, and although she attended the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July, she did not speak at the time.
“Let us carry together a shared vision that is based on American greatness,” Melania told the thousands of cheering people. “Let’s seize this moment and create a country for tomorrow: the future we deserve.”
“New York City and America need to get their magic back,” he smiled and said simply, “And now…”
He was turned on.
Walking towards Melania to the sound of Lee Greenwood’s God Bless The USA, the couple kissed three times on the cheek and lingered in a long embrace.
This was not a time to rush.
But all that was soon forgotten when the man finally emerged just before 7:15 pm and was introduced by his wife Melania, who surprised the audience with a surprise appearance.
And although the former president gave a tighter performance without the verbal extravagances that have plagued many of his recent speeches, within 50 minutes, several thousand had headed for the exits.
Not out of boredom, but perhaps because his followers had perhaps seen enough of the man they believe can take America in a different direction. We all know the messages by now.
“This will be the new golden age of America.”
‘Kamala, you’re fired!’
“We will make America affordable again.”
“The United States is an occupied country… in nine days it will be liberation day.”
After an hour and 20 minutes, everything was finished. Trump and Melania together again on stage at The Garden. A singer belting out ‘New York, New York’ by Frank Sinatra.
Trump certainly came, saw and promised to conquer the city and state that has not turned red since Ronald Reagan’s landslide re-election in 1984.
Heather Ptak, 48, dressed all in red leather, said, “This is the place for him.” This is the place for those who dream and it’s time to dream big again. He is a fighter. He is a fighter. He keeps showing up for people and I love that.”
Heather Ptak, 48, dressed all in red leather, said, “This is the place for him.” This is the place for those who dream and it is time to dream big again.”
Indeed, the oft-repeated words “fight, fight, fight,” uttered by Trump moments after the July assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, were the theme of the night.
It was fitting for a place that was famous for hosting the first of two battles between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier; Ali lost the opening match in 1971.
Ali ‘The Greatest’ refused to publicly admit defeat to Fraiser and when they met again in 1974. That time, he won.
Trump’s history with Madison Square Garden remains to be written.