Former US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump showed off his last-minute gains by holding a large-scale campaign rally in the center of New York, a symbolic city for American progressives.
On the 27th (local time), the Madison Square Garden Stadium in Manhattan, New York, was filled with 25,000 supporters (estimated by the organizers), exceeding the capacity (20,000), and the stadium heated up with heat.
Former President Trump, who took the podium, said, “I ask you to get excited again about the future of our country. “I ask you to dream big again,” he said, unveiling the new election slogan ‘Dream Big Again’.
Trump said, “I want to start (the speech) with a very simple question. “Are you better now than four years ago?” he asked, and the answer “No” echoed throughout the stadium.
Before Trump’s speech, which was the highlight of the day, a large number of Trump’s “superstars” appeared on stage to liven up the atmosphere.
Billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, Fox News anchor-turned conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, UFC Chairman Dana White, TV host and psychology doctor Phil McGraw, famous for his nickname ‘Dr. About 20 celebrities, including F Kennedy Jr., strongly spoke about why Trump should be elected.
Supporting speakers included former New York City Mayor Rudy Julianna, who had been at odds with Trump for leading a lawsuit against election fraud after the last presidential election and was disqualified as a lawyer, drawing attention.
Trump’s family also went on stage and greeted the audience. Not only his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. and daughter-in-law Lara Trump, but also his wife Melania Trump, who had been reclusive during the presidential election, made an appearance for the first time in a while.
Before the election, ‘All-Star Game’ held at the historic stadium… Will it be a winner?
This New York campaign was held in a surprise manner, just 9 days before November 5th, with a tight schedule for major competition states. Local media are reporting that Trump canceled his campaign schedule in battleground states and visited Manhattan, the heart of America’s progressive camp.
Trump is known to have expressed his desire to campaign at Madison Square Garden in several recent interviews, including an interview with Fox News Radio. This stadium, which is also the home stadium of the NBA basketball team New York Knicks, is called “the most famous stadium in the world.”
Upon hearing the news that the Republican presidential candidate would hold a campaign rally in the Democratic Party’s core, Trump supporters came to New York early, took seats, and waited to enter. “I arrived two days ago to sit in the front,” a man from North Carolina told The Epoch Times.
The man, who was waiting in line with other fellow supporters outside the event venue the day before, said, “It will be a monumental event before the election,” and “This is Trump’s last chance to hold an All-Star Game and make his voice heard.”
According to RealClear Politics, a public opinion polling agency, Trump is tied with his rival, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, in various opinion polls. However, Trump is not hiding his strong confidence in that it has shown an upward trend in recent weeks.
Trump has expressed confidence that he wants to win in New York as well. “I want to win in New York if possible,” he said at an event in Georgia on the 23rd. “I think we have a real chance with immigrants taking over New York.”
New York is one of the cities that has received the largest influx of illegal immigrants since the inauguration of the Biden administration. According to a tally by New York City authorities last June, the number of illegal immigrants transported to New York City as of June reached 45,000, and street homelessness reached a 20-year high.
The resulting insecurity and deteriorating living conditions are shaking public sentiment in New York City, a region heavily dominated by the Democratic Party. Trump’s Bronx rally last May drew 8,000 to 10,000 people, far more than the 3,500 the campaign had expected. There were also many black, hispanic and Asian races.
It is difficult to believe that New York public sentiment will turn to Trump all at once. However, the Republican Party’s calculation is that Trump’s campaign in New York will help improve the approval ratings of Republican candidates running in the U.S. House of Representatives in New York and other areas where the Democratic Party is dominant.
Trump campaign senior advisor Jason Miller noted the historical significance of Madison Square Garden. In a press release, Miller noted that this was the site of the “Fight of the Century” in 1971, when the heavyweight championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier was held.
Trump from New York returns to his hometown… Mixed reactions locally
New York is Trump’s hometown. Trump, the third generation of a German immigrant family, was born on June 14, 1946 in Queens, New York City, New York.
New York is also the home of Trump’s economic prominence. Trump, who built enormous wealth and fame through real estate development based in New York, emerged as a surprise presidential candidate in 2016 when he was a Republican outsider and won, overturning expectations that he would be overwhelmingly inferior.
New York was also a city of honor and shame for Trump. New York was a place of opportunity for him to build prosperity, but after failing to win re-election in 2020, New York’s businessmen, colleagues, and citizens turned their backs on Trump. New York was also where Trump’s criminal trial was held.
Trump supporters wait in line to enter former U.S. President Donald Trump’s campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. | Samira Buau/Epoch Times
Even ahead of this campaign, there was mixed welcome and criticism in New York. At the 8th and 33rd Street intersection, Trump supporters from all over the United States wore red ‘Make America Great Again (MAGA)’ hats and created a festive atmosphere as they waited for the campaign to begin.
On the other hand, on one side of 8th Avenue, a protest against Trump was held. Protesters held signs saying ‘Trump should be in jail’ and poured out explicit profanity. However, the police’s strong maintenance of order and the cooperation of protesters on both sides did not lead to an unpleasant atmosphere.
The mixed reactions were shared by major media outlets based in New York.
The New York Post said in an editorial on the 25th, “We support Trump as president,” and “It is a clear choice for a better future.” The editorial also said that this presidential election is “the most important event” in American history and that its impact will last for decades.
A month ago, on the 30th of last month, the progressive media New York Times (NYT) declared its support for Harris under the title ‘The only patriotic presidential choice.’
In a long editorial, the NYT said, “(Harris) may not be the perfect candidate for all voters. “This is especially true for those who are frustrated and angry with our failed government (Biden administration),” he said, while claiming that compared to Trump, it is “more than an alternative.”
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign emphasized that New York is Trump’s hometown. A press release was issued before the event and said, “This grand event held in the center of President Trump’s hometown city will be an opportunity to showcase the historic political movement he prepared at the end of his campaign.”
* This article was contributed by reporters from our U.S. headquarters, including Janice Hissle, who covers the Epoch Times’ Donald Trump campaign.
Copyright © Epoch Times, unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
