For a single evening, Maga-son Square Garden became the stage for the amorphous Sunday spectacle, whose importance and underlying significance will only be discerned through the lens of time and historical viewpoint. It is nestled amidst the hustling streets surrounding the renowned amphitheatre on Eighth Avenue.
Should Donald Trump reoccupy the Oval Office, his rally in Manhattan will be regarded as an ingenious ploy that seized the entirety of the election media spotlight during the second last weekend when the polling lead was indistinguishable and sentiments high-strung. Should he suffer defeat, it may go down in history as his final extensive public attendance.
For the Grand Old Party members, Trump’s showcasing at Madison Square Garden, dubbed ‘the globe’s most eminent arena’ – the venue where Ali contended against Frazier, Marilyn serenaded Happy Birthday and Elvis entertained, symbolised consummation. It posed as the triumphant home-coming of a Queens-bred man who has achieved relative success, yet finds it impossible to completely abandon New York.
For the horrified Democrats, this was nothing less than a malicious plunder. The week seemed heavily laden with references to the notorious pro-Nazi rally ‘America First’ held at the exact location in 1939’s February.
Presenting his take on the difference between the current rally and that infamous event was Hulk Hogan. Adorned with peculiarly tiny yellow horn-rimmed glasses contrasting a red bandana and matching waistcoat, a fashion choice unexplained, Hogan addressed his ‘Trumpomaniacs’, asserting vehemently before a crowd that he couldn’t spot a single Nazi or domestic terrorist, just passionately industrious authentic Americans.
Amongst the Trump-supporting delegates, a varied assortment of figures like RFK Jr, Elon Musk and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, all vouched for Trump. Trump has been previously called out for overstating his crowd size, but no one could dispute the packed Garden this Autumn Sunday. Despite the long lines and frosty temperatures on 31st street, countless fans queuing for hours found themselves locked outside the closed glass entrance to the venue.
An NYPD officer confirmed that the space was indeed saturated through a loudspeaker, apologising to the onlooking crowd which had quickly filled up as soon as the doors opened, many of whom had even spent the night camped out. Several chose to head for their homes, while others decided to stay and watch the action on an external big screen. These individuals learnt the harsh facts about the endurance and persistence required to attend a Donald Trump event.
Trump himself has a fondness for overflowing arenas and during his address, he painted a mental picture for his attendees of the unfortunate individuals outside, going as far as the “splendid Hudson River”. Their numbers were such that had “never been witnessed previously”, according to Trump himself, who was elated to be back in the city he holds dear.
Truth be told, the actual crowd waiting outside didn’t even reach as far as the local Dunkin’ Donuts. However, those who decided to stay were audience to Trump’s promise of a rapidly upcoming American golden age.
One such individual who was part of the external crowd was a supporter known as Pryme Minister, who made his way from Connecticut to attend the rally.
Despite not making it into the arena, his spirits remained high, expressing his joy at the substantial turnout in support of Trump in New York City, even if he had wished to fully enjoy the experience from within the arena. He outlined his reasons for his unwavering support for Trump, citing him as the first influential figure he encountered who defended America over the course of his lifetime.
Pryme Minister sees the upcoming election as potentially signalling the downfall of the Democratic Party, particularly in terms of its African-American support network.
According to him, the African-American community has consistently been manipulated by democrats, whereas the Republican Party, as he sees it, is more aligned with the development of all racial communities. Trump, he believes, is instrumental in bringing together a diverse racial congregation including African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Caucasians.
In the vicinity of 6th Avenue, close to Greeley Square, a fellow New Yorker, Ashea (whose surname wasn’t disclosed) voiced her disappointment about not securing entry into the Garden. The local conversations have been buzzing about parallels drawn between the current situation and the historical rally of 1939.
“Sure, I’ve been privy to conversations where Trump is equated with Hitler and nazism. But in my personal opinion, it’s an absolute overstatement. He has ensured the release of countless black individuals who’ve been imprisoned for non-violent offences, who’ve spent decades languishing in jail. Putting that in perspective, he has also liberated many noted rappers. The man believes in freedom.
“As far as my understanding of Democrats goes, I’ve noticed how they employ linguistic tactics to misguide people. They would have me believe that they’ve been referring to individuals as ‘they’ for decades or that we’ve been using the term ‘cis-gender’ for years. But in my 33 years of existence, I have never been addressed by these terms. So, their strategy seems to be deceiving people with words, keeping them in the dark and vulnerable to potentially harmful things.”
Not far off, Billy Park from Massachusetts sported a placard voicing his objections to boys participating in girls’ sports.
“That’s my primary concern, it’s the reason I’m voting for sports. I was a college athlete myself. Safety is a pressing issue here. Isn’t it ironic that there are women who claim to advocate for women’s rights but fail to define ‘woman’? It’s absolute hypocrisy. In 2016, my vote was for Hilary. But I later shifted my support to Tulsi Gabbard. The right to free speech is significant to me. If you hold conservative views where I reside, you’re subjected to ruthless attacks. It’s like you’re not entitled to an opinion. Look at Elon Musk, Tulsi Gabbard and RFK; despite their political differences they’ve joined forces for a reason.”
Around the Garden’s barricaded surroundings, Trump’s disallowed followers milled about somewhat aimlessly, amongst numerous merchandise stands. Within the venue, key speakers such as JD Vance centred their talk on criticising Kamala Harris and emphasising their stance against immigration. However, mid-afternoon comedian Tony Hinchcliffe stole the limelight with a contentious remark which compared the garbage-infested island in the ocean to Puerto Rico.
Just a few minutes following this, the Democratic Party promptly published a video on social media. It featured a dialogue between vice-president nominee Tim Walz and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a congresswoman from New York. Walz expressed his disbelief at the comment while Ocasio-Cortez condemned the ignorance of labelling Puerto Rico, and by extension, its citizens, as garbage. She pointed out that these attitudes reflected how they viewed anyone earning less than them, from restaurant staff to store workers. She requested everyone in Philadelphia, especially in Reading, Pennsylvania, to view the clip to understand the underlying prejudice.
This was the state of American political opinion on the penultimate Sunday before the election. The reprehensible remark was undoubtedly a moment the Republican Party would have liked to erase from the day. Within the hour, the exceptionally famous Puerto Rican artist, Bad Bunny, offered his support to Harris.
Nevertheless, nothing could overshadow Donald Trump’s return. His discourse largely focussed on his typical narrative of the radical left and criminal immigrants weakening a strong country and his resolve to revive its former glory, seemingly revelling in his debut at the Garden.
Despite the association of Madison Square Garden with lighter elements such as Patrick Ewing and Billy Joel, it became challenging to reconcile its relationship to a day of strong political implications and hefty rhetoric. As though in contrast to this, the cityscape of Manhattan was so distinctly outlined that one could escape from the chaos within a ten-minute stroll, slipping into the picturesque vision of New York City as described by Dorothy Parker. She romantically envisioned the city on a vibrant autumn day where buildings reflected the glint of sunlight and shadows. She conjured an image of the city’s avenues filled with bustling crowds, likened to confetti fluttering in the wind.
Whether Donald Trump shared this vision of New York City remains a moot point. Every New Yorker has their unique perception of the metropolis. Outside Moynihan Hall, formerly Penn Station, a spirited and vocal assortment of anti-Trump protesters had congregated, Erin Roy being one of them. She had postponed her family Sunday lunch to journey to the city with her Harris/Walz sign, anticipating a large crowd. Yet, apprehension led her to tuck her sign away.
While Roy respects Trump’s right to host a rally at the Garden, she views it as his blatant disrespect to the city. She believes that New York is a place for various kinds of people and while Trump may have the right to hold a rally, she too, has the right to voice her dissatisfaction. She posits that the rally isn’t incidental, and that Trump was merely fanning the flames. His cabinet members’ use of particular language in recent times appears to not be accidental but part of a larger narrative.
The voice of John Kelly, the former Marine Corps general who served as Trump’s White House chief of staff speaking about fascism cannot be ignored, according to Roy. She argues that this rhetoric is categorically different from that of long-term protesters. If he were to become president, Trump would no longer be surrounded by his protective cordon, which is an entirely different proposition.
Undoubtedly, it was a distinctive moment in a unique epoch. Donald Trump had concluded his address in the Garden by the time the towering buildings illuminated against the evening sky. Outdoors, the city was abuzz with the sound of police sirens, readying themselves to escort the 45th leader up to Trump Tower via Fifth Avenue.
Meanwhile, Trump spent some additional time on stage alongside his spouse, intently observing a powerful performer serenading Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ with full force.
The occasion concluded without a second performance. This occurred just over a week prior.