Former President Donald Trump delivered a speech focused on immigration during a rally on October 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His remarks came after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faced backlash for making racially charged jokes, which Trump’s campaign distanced itself from.
At the rally, Trump claimed he presided over the most secure border in U.S. history, which has been disputed. He also alleged that FEMA failed to provide hurricane relief funds because the government instead used resources to bring undocumented immigrants into the U.S. This statement is not supported by evidence, nor is there proof of foreign nations sending criminals to the U.S. en masse.
Before Trump’s address, a group of speakers including his son Eric, his wife Melania, and UFC CEO Dana White, among others, took to the stage. Tucker Carlson stirred discussion by mocking Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting her potential presidency would be marked by a mix of racial and personal characteristics.
Trump has claimed the Republican Party has become a more inclusive organization, despite the challenging political landscape of New York, which has leaned Democratic in presidential elections for decades. His choice of venue, Madison Square Garden, is historically significant for political rallies.
Several claims made by Trump during the rally were subsequently fact-checked. He asserted that Harris has brought in “criminal migrants” from various countries, a statement that lacks substantive evidence. On immigration enforcement, Trump mentioned his intention to invoke the Alien Enemies Act but experts clarified that this would not grant him the legal authority to execute mass deportations.
Trump also distorted federal data regarding missing children, exaggerating their numbers. He misstated Harris’s critiques of ICE, claiming she advocated for its abolition, whereas she called for a reevaluation of its role while supporting its existence.
Addressing economic issues, Trump attributed inflation issues to Harris’s tie-breaking vote on the 2021 American Rescue Plan, though this claim has been deemed misleading as many economists point to broader causes for inflation.
Regarding LGBTQ+ matters, Trump contended that Harris supports free gender-affirming surgeries for undocumented immigrants, which is an incomplete representation of her past statements and the context of her support for such medical care in prisons.
On issues of crime and gun control, Trump misrepresented Harris’s positions, falsely claiming she supported a total gun ban. He claimed spikes in crime statistics under the Biden administration, which have been contradicted by various studies indicating a decline in violent crime rates.
Overall, Trump’s rally underscored contentious political dialogues surrounding immigration, economic policies, and public safety as he gears up for the presidential race.