In the wake of a controversial Madison Square Garden rally where some speakers made racist, misogynistic, and vulgar remarks, Donald Trump ’s allies are grappling with what many see as a misstep in the final days of the campaign. Originally intended as a powerful message to voters, the rally left some supporters dismayed and forced into damage control.
What are Trump supporters saying?
John Fredericks, a conservative radio host and close Trump ally, was quick to criticize the choice of speakers, including radio personality Sid Rosenberg and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. According to a report from Politico, he described their selection as “asinine,” saying, “Here we are talking about two obscure people that have nothing to do with this election, instead of the 100,000 people that were there, the tremendous speeches, the love for President Trump, the great closing of the campaign that Trump is doing.”
As the rally’s fallout continued into Monday, Peter Navarro, a former Trump administration official, condemned Hinchcliffe as “tone deaf” and “in poor taste,” while David Urban, a former 2016 campaign advisor, called the remarks “unfortunate,” though he insisted it “doesn’t spell the death knell” for Trump’s campaign.
An opening for Harris campaign?
The backlash over the offensive language has rippled across the campaign. Republican allies have been left defending Puerto Rico while condemning the comments made at the event. Puerto Rican communities in battleground states, such as Pennsylvania, are planning protests at upcoming Trump events, including a rally in Allentown. In a swift counter, Kamala Harris’s campaign has responded with digital ads targeting Latino voters and held events with Latino advocates in Philadelphia.
Reflecting on the rally, Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist and former Trump administration appointee, commented, “Apparently the October surprise was a presidential campaign committing mass political suicide on stage at MSG.”
The event at Madison Square Garden, designed to resemble a mini Republican National Convention, lacked the usual speech vetting found at official party gatherings. Known for his insult comedy, Hinchcliffe — whose stage name, “Kill Tony,” was included in pre-event promotion — took the stage without his jokes being screened, according to the Politico report.
A look at response of JD Vance
Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, addressed the incident at a rally in Wausau, Wisconsin. Though he admitted it “maybe it’s a stupid, racist joke,” he refrained from denouncing it outright, adding, “I think that it’s telling that Kamala Harris’ closing message is essentially that all of Donald Trump’s voters are Nazis and you should get really pissed off about a comedian telling a joke.”
Trump campaign attempts damage control
Attempting to regain control of the narrative, Trump’s campaign distanced itself from the controversial remarks, while spotlighting Trump’s announcement of a tax break for family caregivers, a point largely overshadowed by the uproar. In an email titled “ICYMI: ‘Donald Trump unveils new tax break for family caregivers at Madison Square Garden rally,’” the campaign reminded supporters of Trump’s policy initiative amid the ongoing criticism.
With less than a week before Election Day and early voting well underway, the incident has reshaped the campaign’s final stretch as Trump and his allies try to move past a moment many are calling “a missed opportunity.”
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