By It’s been billed as one of the biggest political rallies in American history. On Sunday, in his hometown of New York City, former President Donald Trump gathered thousands of supporters at Madison Square Garden to kick off the end of his campaign for the White House.
Reuters wrote that “Trump, a New York celebrity for decades, will use the event at the iconic venue known for Knicks basketball games and Billy Joel concerts to deliver his closing argument against Harris.
‘We want to close it out with a beautiful bang‘ he said last week.
Polls show the rival candidates are neck and neck in the battleground states that will decide the next president with just over a week until Election Day. More than 38 million votes have already been cast.”
Not everyone in the Big Apple was impressed, however. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York expressed strong criticism of the Madison Square Garden gathering, calling it a potential indicator of his struggling 2024 presidential campaign.
In an interview on MSNBC’s The Weekend, Hochul stated, “I think he’s waving the white flag of surrender,” suggesting that choosing to hold a rally in the solidly Democratic New York City signals that Trump may be conceding ground in other areas.
“Why else would you come to New York City? You’re not going to find undecided voters walking around Manhattan today,” Hochul remarked.
Every time Donald Trump has been on the ballot in New York, he’s been rejected.
With just a handful of days until Election Day, I bet New York House Republicans are thrilled to welcome their top of the ticket candidate back to our great state tonight. pic.twitter.com/I7Kwn9ONhd
— Kathy Hochul (@KathyHochul) October 27, 2024
Trump, originally from New York, is set to address supporters at the famous venue Sunday evening. Despite the state’s strong Democratic leanings, Trump has insisted publicly and privately that he believes he can win New York in the upcoming election.
“We think there’s a chance of winning New York for the first time in a long time, many, many decades,” Trump said in a recent interview. He cited concerns over issues like the migrant situation in New York as reasons why he feels victory is possible.
Hochul, however, dismissed Republican optimism. She argued that Trump’s decision to return to a city he knows well, rather than focus on other competitive areas, could damage his broader campaign efforts. “He’s comfortable here. Maybe he just wants to sleep in his own bed,” she said, referencing Trump’s personal ties to the city.
Alongside rallying his supporters, the event is expected to be a significant fundraiser for Trump’s campaign. According to CNN, donors have been offered high-priced packages, including VIP suites and exclusive photo opportunities.
While Trump focuses on this New York rally, his campaign is also targeting battleground states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin as Election Day approaches.
He also has announced two rallies in previously considered “reach states.” On Thursday, the former president will be going to New Mexico and on November 2, Trump will be going to Salem, Virginia.
Both places have had a couple of polls showing a closer-than-expected race in the typically-reliable Democratic states.
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