Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, hosted a rally in his native New York City at Madison Square Garden last night.

Expecting a glamorous event similar to performances by top entertainers, Trump had appearances lined up from names like SpaceX’s Elon Musk, wrestling star Hulk Hogan, and UFC’s Dana White.

Comedian Tony Hinchliffe, known as Kill Tony, warmed up the crowd with an offensive joke, labeling Puerto Rico the “floating island of garbage.”

During his one hour and twenty-minute speech, Trump reiterated his intention to initiate the “largest deportation program in American history.”

He described Democrats as led by influential individuals whom he referred to as “the enemy from within,” and insulted Vice President Kamala Harris by claiming she has “very low IQ.”

Stay tuned with live updates from the YSL News Network on the campaign journey.

Trump Campaign Condemns Comedian’s Racist Remarks at Rally

On Sunday, Trump’s campaign clarified that the former president does not endorse the views of the comedian who performed at his rally, after he made an offensive comment about Puerto Rico.

Senior advisor Danielle Alvarez stated, “This joke does not represent the sentiments of President Trump or his campaign.”

During his opening remarks, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, known as Kill Tony, made several offensive jokes, including one about Latinos having too many children and a crude anecdote involving “carving watermelons” with an African American friend.

– Zac Anderson

Republicans Denounce Racist Comments at Trump’s Rally

Racist remarks made by a comedian at Trump’s rally provoked immediate criticism from various Republicans.

Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., expressed her “disgust” on X regarding Hinchcliffe’s statement, asserting it was “racist.”

She noted, “This rhetoric is not aligned with GOP values,” highlighting that over 48,000 Puerto Rican residents served in the Vietnam War and over 345 earned Purple Hearts. “This bravery deserves respect,” she insisted. “Educate yourself!”

Senator Rick Scott, another Florida Republican, commented on X, calling Hinchcliffe’s joke a “bomb” that was “neither funny nor true.”

Other Republicans who criticized Hinchcliffe included Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., who tweeted, “This is no joke. It’s entirely classless and in poor taste.”

He added that Hinchcliffe “clearly isn’t funny and absolutely doesn’t represent my values or those of the GOP.”

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., stated on X that he takes pride in being Puerto Rican and lauded the island’s beauty and culture, remarking, “The only thing that’s ‘garbage’ was a bad comedy set.”

– Zac Anderson

What’s on Trump’s Agenda This Week?

Following a significant night in New York, Trump is beginning his final full week of campaigning before Election Day with a series of events across swing states.

His schedule kicks off with a rally in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, then proceeds to Allentown, Pennsylvania on Tuesday and Green Bay, Wisconsin on Wednesday, where he will be accompanied by former Packers star Brett Favre. Trump’s itinerary then takes him to Henderson, Nevada on Thursday, before returning to the East for gatherings on Friday in Milwaukee and Saturday in Salem, Virginia.

– Zac Anderson and Darren Samuelsohn

Trump’s Parting Remarks Highlight Mass Deportation and Hostility

During a lively, celebrity-laden rally leading up to Election Day, Donald Trump declared at Madison Square Garden that he will usher in “America’s new golden age.”

In a highly competitive race, Trump opened his segment of the rally by reiterating key themes of his campaign focused on a populist economy and mass deportation. He proposed new tax reductions for caregivers and incited crowds to chant “send them back” while discussing the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

“The United States is now an occupied country but it will soon no longer be… nine days from now will be liberation day in America,” stated Trump.

Trump openly reiterated some of his controversial remarks, reinforcing his view that Democrats and his rivals represent the “enemy from within.”

“When I mention the enemy from within, the other side loses it… they have committed significant wrongs against this nation; they truly are the enemy from within,” Trump declared.

The former president ramped up his criticism of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, using harsh and very personal language, claiming she “can’t formulate two sentences” after a series of speakers challenged her intellect. He linked these jabs to a new campaign slogan, stating, “Trump will fix it.”

“Time after time, Kamala has created issues, but I will resolve them,” he asserted.

– Zac Anderson

Comedian mocks Puerto Rico at rally

A comedian who performed at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden made jokes about Latino families having many children, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating garbage island,” and shared a story about carving watermelons with a Black friend.

“Did you know there’s an actual floating island of garbage in the ocean?” Tony Hinchliffe, known as Kill Tony, quipped on Sunday before delivering the punch line, “I believe it’s called Puerto Rico.”

The comedian’s remarks, which preceded Trump’s speech, prompted laughter and some discomfort in the audience. Hinchliffe, who hosts the show “Kill Tony” with nearly 2 million followers on YouTube, stated regarding Latinos, “They certainly enjoy having children, that’s for sure.” He also highlighted a Black attendee saying, “That’s one of my buddies. He threw a Halloween party last night, and we had a blast carving watermelons.”

Later on X, Hinchliffe expressed his fondness for Puerto Rico, mentioning he had vacationed there. He also noted that he was surprised by the backlash from Walz, adding, “These people lack a sense of humor.”

– Josh Meyer

Melania Trump makes rare rally appearance

Melania Trump, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight during her husband’s latest presidential campaign, made a notable appearance and spoke at the rally on Sunday.

As “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses played, the former First Lady stated, “New York City and America need their magic once again.”

The audience erupted in cheers for Melania Trump, who then welcomed her husband to the stage.

– Zac Anderson

JD Vance offers a new slogan for Kamala Harris

JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, took on the role of attack dog during Sunday’s rallies, criticizing Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz.

Vance pointed out a recent comment from Harris during an appearance on “The View” in which she was asked how she might differ from President Biden.

Vance suggested that her response of “nothing comes to mind” would make an excellent campaign slogan, quipping, “Kamala Harris: Nothing Comes to Mind.”

He expressed sympathy for Walz, implying that he must defend Harris’ record, which led the audience to begin chanting “Tampon Tim.”

– Zac Anderson

Tucker Carlson: Reflecting on an Unusual Journey

Tucker Carlson, a prominent figure in conservative media, linked various cultural references by mentioning the Grateful Dead, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Donald Trump while speaking at a rally for the Republican presidential nominee at Madison Square Garden.

Carlson reminisced about seeing the Grateful Dead perform at Madison Square Garden in 1987 and expressed his astonishment at being on stage “following Bobby Kennedy Jr. at a Trump event.”

He compared Trump’s return to New York City to a person being kicked out of a bar but returning anyway, stating that Trump was “back in the city that shaped him without any shame.”

In a controversial remark, Carlson appeared to ridicule Kamala Harris’ heritage, referring to her as the first “Samoan, Malaysian, low IQ” president, despite Harris being of Indian and Jamaican descent.

-Zac Anderson

Estimating Attendance at Trump’s Rally

Madison Square Garden has the capacity to accommodate over 20,000 visitors for boxing matches and usually hosts more than 19,000 fans for NHL and NBA games. However, it remains uncertain how many seats will be available for Trump’s rally due to security and other considerations.

Additionally, tickets for Trump’s rallies are typically distributed on a first-come, first-served basis without assigned seating. Therefore, the number of tickets sold does not necessarily reflect the actual attendance.

− Shane Brennan

Ramaswamy: ‘New York is a Key State‘

Trump’s gathering in New York has raised questions among notable figures regarding his electoral strategy just nine days before the election.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy shared with the Madison Square Garden audience that a billionaire friend reached out to him on Sunday morning, questioning why the Republican nominee would host an event in solidly Democratic New York so close to the November 5 election.

According to Ramaswamy, the friend asked, “Why are you wasting your time in New York City instead of targeting a swing state?”

Ramaswamy countered, stating, “New York is a swing state.”

Though Trump had significant losses in New York during the 2020 and 2016 elections, Ramaswamy’s comments were met with enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Ramaswamy had previously competed against Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries.

– Zac Anderson

Where is Kamala Harris on Sunday?

As Trump conducts a major rally at Madison Square Garden, Kamala Harris is busy campaigning in the crucial state of Pennsylvania.

The Democratic nominee’s day began with a church service on Sunday morning at The Church of Christian Compassion in West Philadelphia.

Close to the church, Harris visited a barbershop named Philly Cuts, aiming to connect with Black male voters, who have shown a decline in support for her according to several surveys. She also took part in an interview with Walter Perez for 6abc Action News at the shop, followed by a stop at a local bookstore.

Harris continued her campaign across Philadelphia, speaking at Freddy and Tony’s Restaurant, a Puerto Rican eatery. Her campaign released an “opportunity economy” agenda for Puerto Rico today, focusing on enhancing economic growth and improving the island’s electrical infrastructure.

– Rebecca Morin and Joey Garrison

How to Watch Trump’s Madison Square Rally

You don’t need a cable subscription to catch Donald Trump’s rally in New York City, as it will be available for online livestreaming.

− Marina Pitofsky

Trump Supporters Transform NYC into a Sea of Red MAGA Hats

Supporters camped out overnight, filled subway cars, and filled the streets, which were lined with tall buildings, with a wave of red MAGA hats and vehicles adorned with Trump flags, parading through New York City.

The former president was in attendance, and his “Make America Great Again” fans came out in droves to demonstrate their enthusiasm in one of the nation’s most Democratic-leaning cities.

As part of one of the bluest states, a movement is emerging that is gaining significant attention.

Trump’s image lit up the big screens outside Madison Square Garden with the phrase “Dream Big Again!” His supporters were envisioning a future with Trump back in the White House, energized by the rally held on Sunday at this globally renowned arena.

“Whether it’s good or bad, it’s a historic moment and something worth experiencing,” shared Mike Zarro, a 28-year-old tow truck driver from Long Island. He mentioned to YSL News that he left for Manhattan in the early hours just to attend the Trump rally.

Bill Robinson, a 65-year-old retiree from North Carolina, has attended 53 Trump rallies since 2015. He referred to the event at Madison Square Garden as “the granddaddy of them all,” as he camped out on Saturday afternoon and became the first in a line that would later extend down an entire city block.

“Half of the rally is Trump, and the other half is just being around like-minded people,” Robinson noted.

Nearby, Richard Everit, a 59-year-old truck driver from Pennsylvania, waved a Trump flag and exchanged fist bumps with supportive onlookers.

Everit revealed that he never voted until he cast his first ballot for Trump in 2020, stating that the former president “opened my eyes.” He now proudly sports Trump merchandise daily.

– Zac Anderson

Trump ally declares mayoral candidacy at MSG rally

David Rem, a longtime friend of Trump, took the opportunity at the rally on Sunday to announce his candidacy for mayor of New York City.

“We need to make New York red,” declared Rem.

He also emphasized Trump’s faith, asserting that he “understands that Jesus Christ is king” and claimed that those against the former president would stop at nothing to hinder him.

“They fear facing Donald Trump at the polls, so they resort to extreme measures, including imprisoning or harming him,” Rem stated.

-Zac Anderson

The race between Harris and Trump is extremely close

Just how close is this race?

It’s incredibly tight in the popular vote, only a hair away from being deadlocked, based on one measure.

The Real Clear Politics average from recent national polls shows Trump ahead of Harris with 48.5% to 48.4% – a mere 0.1% difference. This is well within the margin of error for the included surveys.

Most polls in battleground states, which will ultimately decide the Electoral College and the presidency, also fall within the margin of error.

−David Jackson

Full speaker list for Trump rally at Madison Square Garden featuring Elon Musk, Dana White

Here’s who spoke at the rally on Sunday, October 27, according to the Trump campaign:

• JD Vance, Republican vice presidential nominee
• Speaker Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House
• Rep. Elise Stefanik
• Rep. Byron Donalds
• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, former Democrat and four-term Congresswoman
• Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Associate Attorney General and Mayor of New York City
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former presidential candidate
• Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee
• Eric Trump, son of former President Trump
• Donald Trump Jr., son of former President Trump
• Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla
• Dan Scavino, senior advisor to former President Trump
• Stephen Miller, senior advisor to former President Trump
• Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
• Tucker Carlson, host of The Tucker Carlson Show
• Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute
• Steve Witkoff, founder of the Witkoff Group
• Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, co-chair of the Trump 2024 Transition Team
• Grant Cardone, CEO of 10X
• Sergio Gor, Right for America PAC
• Michael Harris Jr., co-founder of Death Row Records
• Tiffany Justice, founder of Moms for Liberty
• Lee Greenwood, singer
• Christopher Macchio, opera singer
• Mary Millben, singer
• Sid Rosenberg, New York radio personality
• Tony Hinchcliffe, comedian and host of “Kill Tony” podcast
• Scott Lobaido, live painter
• David Rem, childhood friend of former President Trump
• Hulk Hogan

−Mike Snider

Trump’s Rally at Madison Square Garden Marks a Key Moment in His Campaign

On Sunday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump plans to make a significant statement on one of the largest platforms in the most populous city as he makes one of his last attempts in the highly competitive 2024 presidential race.

This event, staged at Madison Square Garden – known globally as “The World’s Most Famous Arena” – is a quintessential Trump maneuver. However, some political experts find it puzzling that the former president would allocate his time and resources to host an event in a predominantly Democratic state like New York so close to Election Day on November 5.

Trump and his team assert that holding this rally on the weekend before the election is strategically sound. His ability to command media attention and draw large audiences has been central to his achievements, a skill he developed in the New York spotlight during the 1980s.

Continuing to capture media interest is crucial for him as he competes against Kamala Harris, who has brought renewed enthusiasm and favorable media attention since rising to the top of the Democratic party this summer when President Joe Biden decided not to seek a second term.

−Zac Anderson and David Jackson