By james art Former President Donald Trump held a star-studded campaign rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, delivering his closing speech to the American people just nine days before Election Day.
“Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Trump asked, to which his supporters responded with a chorus of “No!”
The former president used his campaign stop at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” to announce a new tax credit proposal for caregivers who care for a family or loved one. He repeated calls for the death penalty for illegal immigrants who are guilty of killing American citizens and to ban all sanctuary cities.
Trump also touted his recent endorsements from Muslim leaders in Michigan and promised to end ongoing wars in other parts of the world.
“The Republican Party has really become the party of inclusion, and there’s something really good about that,” Trump told the sold-out crowd, citing support from Catholics, Jews, Mormons and evangelicals. “They are all joining our cause in great numbers.”
Trump also clarified that his plan to write off the auto loan interest tax he introduced earlier this month would only apply to cars made in America.
Trump thanked New York City Mayor Eric Adams after Adams defended Trump and said he didn’t believe Trump should be called a fascist.
“He said they shouldn’t call Trump a dictator because that’s not true. That’s nice That was nice. Very nice. So we want to thank Mayor Adams,” Trump said at the rally.
Adams made the comment after Vice President Kamala Harris and her surrogates criticized Trump in recent days after Trump’s former chief of staff John Kelly accused him of praising Adolf Hitler and the dictator’s generals. Trump and previous members of his administration have fiercely opposed Kelly’s claims.
Tech mogul Elon Musk, who spoke earlier and introduced former first lady Melania Trump, was an important part of Trump’s closing message. The former president called Musk “brilliant” and “special.”
Musk, the CEO of Tesla, the world’s largest carmaker, told rally attendees that a second Trump administration would “get the government off your back and out of your pocket.”
Musk is expected to sit on the proposed “Department of Government Efficiency,” a commission that would aim to cut what the Trump administration sees as unnecessary federal government spending.
Other speakers at the rally included Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), former on Fox News Tucker Carlson, UFC CEO Dana White, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, Dr. Phil McGraw, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and billionaire Howard Lutnick .
Entry to the event was free, with the campaign covering the cost of renting the hall. Tens of thousands were turned away, unable to get inside after the arena reached maximum capacity.
Crowds unable to get in flocked to local bars, restaurants and outdoor screens to watch the rally program.
A Jewish Trump-supporting fashion designer, Eli Bale, said he worries that the US retail industry will be hit hard if the status quo of economic policy continues.
“In the last four years since the Democrats took office, you’ve seen big companies close one after the other — like a domino effect,” Balech told NTD News.
Bale also said he wasn’t surprised to see such massive support for Trump on the streets of New York.
“I live in Brooklyn. Most of Brooklyn is pro-Trump,” Bale said. “I took the train here because I knew it was going to be crazy.”
Chris Indelicotti said he supports the former president because he believes Trump is the only presidential candidate who “has the best interests of the American people at heart.”
New York is about as dark blue as it gets and, along with California, is considered one of the biggest contenders for the Republicans.
Republicans haven’t won the Empire State since President Ronald Reagan won 49 of the 50 states in the 1984 race.
Trump has repeatedly expressed that he plays for New York, his home state.
By staging the attention-grabbing event in the world’s largest media market, Trump could help boost Republican candidates in New York’s congressional race. The state has seven competitive seats that could help determine whether the party stays in the House next year.
It could also give Trump a boost in nearby northeastern Pennsylvania, a battleground state that has increasingly become home to New York commuters.
Trump is also using the shutdown as a big fundraising opportunity. The Trump campaign said the event at the 19,500-seat arena was sold out.
According to the latest FiveThirtyEight poll in New York, Harris leads Trump by 19 percentage points.
Early voting officially began in New York on Saturday, which was also the last day to register to vote. Election day is November 5.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.