By james art 
Former first lady Melania Trump took the stage at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, headlining her husband Donald’s rally in New York in a rare campaign appearance this cycle.
Melania, wearing a long zebra dress, welcomed the crowd to her and Donald’s “hometown” deep into the evening’s line-up. She celebrated all the city’s achievements – before introducing the former president on stage in a warm hug.
“Our hometown, where architectural symbols of strength, courage and unity, set the canvas for the undisputed industrial capital of the world,” said the proud New Yorker.
“Where the titans of finance, fashion and entertainment come together amid an iconic range of superb design, structures and artistic excellence,” Melania added.
The former first lady has not spoken publicly during her 2024 campaign and has rarely been seen around her husband, choosing instead to spend time with their 18-year-old son Barron in Florida and the Big Apple.
She went to Milwaukee, Wisc., to sit next to her husband at the Republican National Convention days after he was shot in Butler, Pa., but did not make a speech on stage then, choosing to make a heartfelt statement about the assassination attempt instead.
The former model returned to New York shortly before Barron entered college in September and graduated from Palm Beach High School. He attended New York University and commuted to school from the family’s apartment in Trump Tower.
The campaign appearances Melania has made have been held at private venues and she has been paid hundreds of thousands to appear, such as at a Log Cabin Republicans event in the spring. She also recently published her book Melania and has appeared in the media to talk about her life and the content of the memoir, including her views on women and abortion.
She made her speech debut at her husband’s MSG rally just over a week before Election Day and spoke about New York, where she made her career after moving to the US from Slovenia.
Melania spoke about New York being “unforgiving” and the city’s “declining quality of life” in recent years as the crowd booed and cheered her on.
Follow the latest news from Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden:
“I love you too!” she replied to the 20,000-seat arena.
“New York and America need their magic back,” she continued, claiming her husband would be “the next commander-in-chief” to bring back greatness.
Melania Trump ended her speech by introducing the former president to the huge crowd. He entered the arena to thunderous applause and cheers and hugged his wife, kissed her on the cheek and held her hand as he looked out into the audience
“We are delighted to be joined by my beautiful wife,” Trump said.
“It’s a great book,” he congratulated her on her bestseller.
He revealed that Barron was “watching himself at home”, calling him “the king of the internet” as he advised him on key podcast appearances.