By james art Melania Trump and a bevy of stars joined Donald for a huge campaign rally at Madison Square Garden with just a week to go until the US presidential election.
The former first lady made what was one of her first campaign appearances with a surprise speech at her husband’s mega rally in New York, just weeks after releasing her bombshell memoir in which she revealed her support for abortion rights.
She was introduced on stage by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and exited to a standing ovation, defiantly telling the crowds “New York and America need their magic back.”
Melania, wearing a black and white animal print jacket, spoke for just five minutes, but her speech focused more on a vision for the country and less on politics, while her husband said it would be an “honour” to win New York and warned that voting for Kamala Harris was a “bet” that could “cost the lives of millions” and lead to “World War III”.
“Imagine a wonderful America where the seeds of security, prosperity and health are being re-sown for the benefit of our families,” Melania said.
She then introduced the former president. She gave him a big smile as he took the stage to his signature song, “God Bless America.”
Melania Trump stunned the crowd at Madison Square Garden when she made a surprise appearance
The pair paused, holding out their arms to each other as they first saw each other on stage. Then they embraced and exchanged kisses on the cheeks.
It was a rare and stunning move by the former first lady, who made clear her disdain for politics. She went to the Republican National Convention but didn’t speak. She did not attend the two presidential debates.
Her appearance comes as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a dead heat in the polls. And it happened in New York, a city she claims to love.
She lives in Trump Tower in the city with the couple’s son Barron, who attends New York University. New York was her home when she came to America as a model.
The former first lady is promoting her memoir Melania and a new jewelry line.
It was also her first time speaking about her husband’s run for president.
“Let’s charge together with a shared vision that builds on American greatness.” Let us seize this moment and create a country for tomorrow, the future we deserve,” she said.
Her only mention of her husband’s presidential campaign was at the end: “Please welcome our next commander-in-chief, my husband, President Donald J. Trump.”
Melania Trump did not mention Kamala Harris, her husband’s rival for the White House. Harris spent Sunday making multiple stops in Philadelphia in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Donald Trump organized the rally in the biggest and most famous place in his hometown of New York. 20,000 Madison Square Garden was packed to capacity.
The former president made a bold prediction that he would become the first Republican in 40 years to win New York, while warning that Kamala Harris’ “gamble” would cost “millions of lives” during the event in the heart of Manhattan.
Other speakers included well-known conservatives such as his running mate JD Vance, Dr. Phil McGraw, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Dr. Phil surprised the crowd by speaking at the rally and introducing Vance.
The famous doctor admitted: “I don’t like or agree with everything Trump says or does … you don’t have to love everything about someone to love them.”
Melania Trump introduced her husband Donald Trump to a packed audience at Madison Square Garden
The former president gestured to roaring MAGA fans as he took the stage with his wife
Elon Musk introduced Melania
“We love you,” the crowd told Melania Trump
“And the last thing he needs is a celebrity endorsement. What the hell do I know? I know I’m not a celebrity to begin with. And celebrities don’t know anything about politics or policy,” said Dr. Phil. “So why am I here? I am here to speak up and stand up for the people who have declared their support for Donald Trump.
Some of the speakers hurled crude and racist insults at Harris.
Trump’s childhood friend David Rehm called Harris “the Antichrist” and “the devil.” Businessman Grant Cardone told the crowd that Harris “and her pimps are going to destroy our country.”
“She is the devil… She is the antichrist. At her rally last week, she said that followers of Jesus Christ are not welcome at her rallies,” Rehm said.
After hours of anticipation, the crowd roared as Trump was brought on stage by his wife, calling him “the next commander in chief.”
New York hasn’t voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. But Donald Trump insisted he could win the state.
Trump also doesn’t think he’s wasting his time or campaign funds by convening in liberal New York with just nine days until the 2024 election.
He said the deep blue state is winnable even though voters have gone Democratic in every presidential race since 1988.
From the stage at the iconic Manhattan Arena, former President Trump vowed to restore New York to its former glory.
“We want to win our country, but we also want to win New York and make it safe, strong, beautiful, affordable and vibrant again,” Trump said.
“When I left, New York was where you wanted to be, and now people just don’t speak well of it. But we will return it. And we will bring it back hard,” he assured.
Trump made his latest pitch to New Yorkers to vote for him after early voting opened in the Empire State on Saturday.
Sunday’s mass rally with more than 20,000 supporters in attendance set the stage for the former president’s closing argument: Kamala Harris broke it, but Trump will fix it.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump greet each other on stage
Elon Musk and Melania Trump listen to Donald Trump’s remarks
“I hope you get out and vote,” Trump said at the end of the more than hour-long speech.
“It would be a great honor to win New York,” he continued. “It hasn’t been done in decades, it hasn’t been done that long.” It hasn’t been done that long.
“They all say, ‘sir, you’re wasting your money.’ I don’t think so,” said the upbeat candidate.
Donald Trump ALSO congratulated Melania on the number one bestseller in her memoir.
“I was nervous when I read it. I wondered if there was something for me,” he admitted.
Melania explosively revealed in her upcoming memoir that she supports a woman’s right to choose when it comes to abortion.
The former first lady shockingly wrote that she had “carried that faith” throughout her “adult life”.
“It is imperative to ensure that women have the autonomy to decide their preferences to have children based on their own convictions, without any interference or pressure from the government,” the former first lady said.
“Why should anyone but the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman’s fundamental right to personal freedom, to her own life, gives her the right to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes,” she continued.
“Limiting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she says. “I carried that belief with me throughout my adult life.”
In her memoir, Melania wrote that “occasional political disagreements between me and my husband” were “part of our relationship,” adding that she believed in “addressing them privately rather than publicly challenging them.”
Former first lady Melania Trump sparked controversy when she wore a jacket with the message “I really don’t care. Right? when she went to visit migrant children at the US-Mexico border in June 2018. She now claims the message was directed at the media
Later in the book, she claims she forced her husband, Donald, to abandon his tough immigration policy of separating children from their parents at the border under the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy.
But when she made a surprise research visit to a migrant detention center in June 2018, she sparked a frenzy when she wore a jacket that read ‘I really don’t care’. Right?
Melania called the announcement “discreet but impactful” and claimed it was meant to protest “reporting by anonymous sources”.
“I was determined … not to let false media narratives affect my mission to help children and families at the border,” she wrote.
“I actually decided to tell them that their criticism will never stop me from doing what I think is right. To emphasize, I wore a special jacket when I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous,” she added.
The former president complimented his wife during his speech at Madison Square Garden. Her memoir Melania became number one on the New York Times bestseller list.
As for Melania, the crowd of MAGA faithful was simply thrilled to see her.
“We love you,” a fan called out to her.
“I love you too,” Melania replied.