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Speakers at Trump's Madison Square Garden event crudely denounce Harris and Democrats

Scott Lobaido unveils a painting before Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Scott Lobaido unveils a painting before Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
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NEW YORK -

Several of Donald Trump's allies used crude and extreme rhetoric Sunday toward U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and other Trump critics before the former U.S. president was to take the stage at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Trump鈥檚 childhood friend David Rem referred to the Democratic presidential candidate, who is vying to become the first woman to be elected president, as 鈥渢he Antichrist鈥 and 鈥渢he devil.鈥 Businessman Grant Cardone told the crowd that Harris 鈥漚nd her pimp handlers will destroy our country鈥 before saying, of Democrats, 鈥渨e need to slaughter these other people.鈥

The opening of the rally was a hodgepodge of Trumpism, with an extended clip played from the 1970 film 鈥淧atton,鈥 a painting of the American flag with Trump in front of it as 鈥淕od Bless America鈥 blared from the speakers, and a stand-up routine from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe that was full of lewd jokes, often invoking racist stereotypes of Latinos, Jews and Black people.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if you guys know this, but there鈥檚 literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it鈥檚 called Puerto Rico,鈥 said Hinchcliffe, whose joke was immediately flagged by Harris鈥 campaign as it competes with Trump to win over Puerto Rican communities in Pennsylvania and other swing states.

Rudy Giuliani speaks before Republican presidential nominee former U.S. president Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

While some Democrats and pundits have questioned Trump鈥檚 decision to hold what they dismiss as a vanity event in his hometown, the rally guarantees Trump what he most craves: the spotlight, wall-to-wall coverage and a national audience.

The closing message he will deliver Sunday, according to his campaign, is that Harris 鈥渂roke鈥 the country and that Trump 鈥渨ill fix it.鈥 Rallygoers hours beforehand waved signs with the words 鈥淭rump will fix it.鈥

Several speakers ripped Hillary Clinton, the Democrat defeated by Trump eight years ago, for saying Trump on Sunday would be 鈥渞eenacting鈥 a pro-Nazi event at the Garden in February 1939. One critic, radio host Sid Rosenberg, used a profanity to denounce the former secretary of state.

鈥淗ey guys, they're now scrambling and trying to call us Nazis and fascists,鈥 said Alina Habba, one of Trump's attorneys, who draped a sparkly 鈥淢AGA鈥 jacket over the lectern as she spoke. 鈥淎nd you know what they're claiming, guys? It's very scary. They're claiming we're going to go after them and try and put them in jail. Well, ain't that rich?鈥

Trump has denounced the four criminal indictments brought against him as politically motivated. He has ramped up his denunciations in recent weeks of 鈥渆nemies from within,鈥 naming domestic political rivals, and suggested he would use the military to go after them. Harris, in turn, has called Trump a 鈥渇ascist.鈥

The arena was full hours before Trump was scheduled to speak. Outside the arena, the sidewalks were overflowing with Trump supporters in red 鈥淢ake America Great Again鈥 hats. There was a heavy security presence. Streets were blocked off and access to Penn Station was restricted.

In the crowd was Philip D鈥橝gostino, a longtime Trump backer from Queens, the borough where Trump grew up. The 64-year-old said it was appropriate for Trump to be speaking at a place bills itself as 鈥渢he world鈥檚 most famous arena.鈥

鈥淚t just goes to show ya that he has a bigger following of any man that has ever lived,鈥 D'Agostino said.

Video boards outside Madison Square Garden display information about the campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in New York. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

The rally is one of a series of detours Trump has made from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California 鈥 best known for the famous music festival named after the town 鈥 and one in May on the Jersey Shore. This summer he campaigned in the South Bronx.

To reach them, Trump has spent hours appearing on popular podcasts. And his campaign has worked to create viral moments like his visit last weekend to a McDonald鈥檚 restaurant, where he made fries and served supporters through the drive-thru window. Video of the stop posted by his campaign has been viewed more than 40 million times on TikTok alone.

Harris has also traveled to non-battleground states for major events intended to drive a national message. She appeared in Houston Friday with music superstar Beyonc茅 to speak about reproductive rights, and will deliver her own closing argument Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, where Trump spoke ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

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 the country鈥檚 greatest entertainers. The former reality TV star has long talked about wanting to hold a rally at the venue in interviews and private conversations.

Beyond the national spotlight and the appeal of appearing on one of the world's most famous stages, Republicans in the state say the rally will also help down-ballot candidates. New York is home to a handful of competitive congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.

Trump will also use the stop as a major fundraising opportunity as he continues to seriously lag Harris in the money race.

New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. But that hasn't stopped Trump from continuing to insist he believes he can win.

Trump routinely uses his hometown as a foil before audiences in other states, painting a dark vision of the city that bears little resemblance to reality. He鈥檚 cast it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who have taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Times Square.

Trump has a complicated history with the place where he built his business empire and that made him a tabloid and reality TV star. Its residents indicted him last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He was found guilty in that case, and also found liable in civil court for business fraud and sexual abuse. 

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