Former President Donald Trump emphasized an anti-immigration message during his rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 27, appealing to voters with a variety of contentious claims.
Prior to Trump’s speech, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made headlines for his controversial jokes, which included a derogatory remark about Puerto Rico and disparaging comments about various ethnic groups. These remarks were quickly condemned by both Democrats and some Florida Republicans, including Senator Rick Scott. Trump campaign adviser Danielle Alvarez stated that Hinchcliffe’s jokes do not reflect the views of Trump or his campaign.
During his address, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, made several assertions related to immigration, many of which were fact-checked. He claimed responsibility for the most secure border in U.S. history, which has been disputed; federal data shows that immigration officials arrested around 108,000 non-citizens with criminal convictions between 2021 and 2024. Trump also stated that he would invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 for mass deportations, a move legal experts say he does not have the authority to execute and would likely face legal challenges.
Additionally, Trump misleadingly asserted that 325,000 children are missing or enslaved due to an “open border,” distorting data about unaccompanied minors released from federal custody. He also incorrectly stated that Kamala Harris vowed to abolish ICE, ignoring her previous comments which suggested a need to reassess its functions while affirming its existence.
On economic matters, Trump claimed that Harris’s tie-breaking vote for the 2021 American Rescue Plan led to the worst inflation in U.S. history. However, inflation issues are predominantly attributed to pandemic-related disruptions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, not solely the Rescue Plan.
Regarding LGBTQ+ issues, Trump claimed that Harris supports free sex reassignment surgeries for undocumented immigrants at taxpayer expense. While Harris has advocated for gender-affirming surgery access in prisons, her 2024 campaign has not focused on this issue, and there are no records of such surgeries provided in immigration detention.
When addressing gun control, Trump contended that Harris pledged to confiscate guns and sought a total handgun ban. However, Harris has since changed her stance on mandatory buybacks for assault weapons and does not propose a full handgun ban.
Lastly, Trump claimed that crime rates are soaring in the Biden-Harris administration, calling attention to new statistics indicating a dramatic rise. Yet, crime data generally shows a decline in violent crime rates from 2020 to 2023, with some adjustments in FBI data leading to misleading interpretations of crime trends.
Trump’s rally featured multiple speakers, including his running mate, Senator JD Vance, and other notable figures, but took place in a politically challenging environment as New York has a long history of voting for Democratic candidates.