Trump Hosts Rally at MSG: Watch Live

NEW YORK – Former President Donald Trump is holding a rally in his hometown at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, just nine days before Election Day.

“Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, noting the rich history of the venue, which has hosted events including the 1971 “Fight of the Century.”

The rally is one of a series of detours Trump has taken from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California, and one over the summer at the Jersey Shore. He participated in the campaign this summer South Bronx.

Trump insisted that the MSG rally was part of a larger effort to win New York – which state President Joe Biden carried out four years ago with more than 60% of the vote – but he also made clear that the rally was personal.

“It’s New York, but it’s also MSG, it’s Madison Square Garden,” Trump said during a recent radio interview. “Guys like you and me, these words mean a lot. Madison Square Garden, right? Don’t you think?… This is a very important stop.”

Trump’s rally started at 5 p.m

FOX 5 NY is streaming the event in the media player above.

Here’s everything you need to know:

JUMP TO LATEST RALLIES | GUESTS | HISTORY OF MADISON SQUARE GARDEN | STREETS CLOSED

The opening of the rally was a mix of Trumpism, with an extended clip of the 1970 film “Patton,” a painting of an American flag with Trump in front of it and the words “God Bless America” ​​blaring from loudspeakers, and a booth – a routine by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, full of lewd jokes, often referring to racist stereotypes about Latinos, Jews and blacks.

“I don’t know if you know this, but right now there is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” said Hinchcliffe, whose joke was immediately downplayed by Democrat Kamala Harris. campaign that is competing with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.

Several critics blasted Hillary Clinton, the Democrat Trump defeated eight years ago, for saying Trump would “recreate” on Sunday. pro-Nazi event in the Garden in February 1939. One of the speakers, radio host Sid Rosenberg, used profanity while condemning the former Secretary of State.

“Hey, guys, now they’re arguing and trying to call us Nazis and fascists,” said Alina Habba, one of Trump’s lawyers, who hung a shiny jacket with “MAGA” written on it from the podium during her speech. “And you know what they claim, guys? It’s very scary. They claim that we will follow them and try to put them in jail. Well, aren’t they so rich?”

Trump has condemned the four criminal charges against him as politically motivated. He has accelerated has in recent weeks condemned “enemies from within”, named domestic political rivals and suggested using the military to pursue them.

The arena was packed hours before Trump was scheduled to speak. Outside the arena, the sidewalks were filled with Trump supporters wearing red hats with the words “Make America Great Again.” There were plenty of security forces there. Streets were blocked and access to Penn Station restricted.

In the crowd was Philip D’Agostino, a longtime Trump supporter from Queens, the neighborhood where Trump grew up. The 64-year-old said it was appropriate for Trump to speak at a venue that calls itself “the most famous arena in the world.”

“It just shows that he has a larger following of any person who has ever lived,” D’Agostino said.

The rally is one of a series of tours Trump has made from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California – best known for the famous music festival named after that city – and a rally in Jersey Shore in May. He participated in the campaign this summer South Bronx.

Although some Democrats and television pundits question Trump’s decision to label what they see as a vanity event, the rally guarantees Trump what he desires most: a spotlight, wall-to-wall coverage and a national audience.

To reach them, Trump spent hours appearing on popular podcasts. His campaign has produced viral moments, such as his visit to a McDonald’s restaurant last weekend, where he fried french fries and served supporters through a drive-thru window. A video of the stop posted as part of his campaign has been viewed more than 40 million times on TikTok alone.

“He won’t just be speaking to attendees at Madison Square Garden. People from battleground states across the country will be listening,” said former Republican Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican and ally of the former president. who said Trump had been talking about holding an event there since the beginning of his campaign.

Harris also traveled to non-battleground states to participate in major events designed to convey the national message. On Friday, she appeared in Houston with music superstar Beyoncé to talk about reproductive rights and will give a talk her own final speech Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., where Trump spoke before Jan. 6, 2021 Riots in the Capitol.

Trump will be joined at the rally by supporters including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost his campaign.

Trump often compares himself to some of the country’s greatest artists. The former reality star has long spoken about her desire to hold a rally there in interviews and private conversations.

“Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe,” said Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, noting the rich history of the venue that has hosted events including the 1971 “Fight of the Century.”

According to Fox NewsTesla CEO Elon Musk and UFC CEO Dana White will also be in town for the rally.

The event will be attended by political figures, stars and musical artists. Famous guests include:

• Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
• Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Political commentator Tucker Carlson
• Former Democratic presidential candidate turned Republican Tulsi Gabbard
• Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance
• House Speaker Mike Johnson
• Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)
• Rep. Byron Donalds (Fla.)
• Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump
• Eric Trump
• Donald Trump Jr.
• Death Row Records founder Michael Harris Jr.
• Singer Lee Greenwood
• Opera singer Christopher Macchio

Madison Square Garden has history in politics, organizing events with Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1962, John F. Kennedy Jr. organized a birthday celebration at the stadium during which Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday to You, Mr. “President”.

But if Trump might want to repeat Garden history, it’s when Grover Cleveland accepted his party’s nomination in 1892, three years after leaving the White House. He won the election, becoming the first and only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

New York City Police Chief John Chell said there would be increased police activity in and around the Garden, and vehicle and pedestrian traffic would be restricted.

The following streets are likely to have limited access traffic:

• 33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 32nd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
• 31st Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 30th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 7th Avenue will be closed to pedestrians from 34th to 29th Street

The Associated Press contributed to this report.