Former President Donald Trump emphasized an anti-immigration message during his final pitch to voters at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 27. His remarks came after the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faced backlash for making racist jokes at the event, where he referred to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage” and targeted Black Americans, Latinos, and Jewish individuals. Hinchcliffe’s comments were condemned by Democrats and some Republican leaders, including Senator Rick Scott from Florida. A senior adviser to Trump, Danielle Alvarez, clarified that Hinchcliffe’s jokes did not reflect the views of the Trump campaign.
At the rally, Trump claimed he oversaw the safest border in U.S. history, criticized FEMA for not providing hurricane relief, and suggested foreign countries were sending their inmates to the U.S., all of which have been disputed. His speech included a lineup of notable speakers, including his running mate Senator JD Vance and various celebrities and political figures.
Trump also faced scrutiny for his claims regarding immigration and crime, many of which were fact-checked. He asserted that Kamala Harris had imported criminals and pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for mass deportations, both of which were misleading. He inaccurately claimed that 325,000 children were missing due to immigration policies and misrepresented Harris’s stance on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In discussing the economic impact of the American Rescue Plan Act, Trump attributed significant inflation to Harris’s Senate vote, although experts suggest that broader factors contributed more to inflation increases.
Trump’s statements on LGBTQ+ issues regarding Harris’s advocacy for gender-affirming surgeries were also contested. While he accused her of supporting free surgeries for undocumented immigrants, her actual position was more nuanced, reflecting legal requirements for medical care in prisons.
On crime-related statements, Trump claimed crime rates had dramatically increased under the Biden-Harris administration, despite data indicating a decline in violent crime in recent years. Trump’s assertion regarding a 45% rise in crime has been found to be misleading and contextually inaccurate.
Overall, the rally highlighted the contentious political atmosphere as Trump continues to position himself for the upcoming election.