Trump veers away from swing states for his Madison Square Garden moment

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is yet getting his Madison Square Garden moment.

With conscionable complete a week to spell earlier Election Day, nan erstwhile president will return nan shape astatine 1 of nan country’s astir iconic venues, hosting a hometown rally to present his campaign’s closing connection against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Madison Square Garden is nan halfway of nan universe,” said Trump run elder advisor Jason Miller, noting nan venue’s storied history hosting events including nan 1971 “Fight of nan Century.”

The rally is 1 of a bid of detours Trump has made from battleground states, including a caller rally successful Coachella, California — champion known for nan celebrated euphony show named aft nan municipality — and 1 complete nan summertime connected nan Jersey Shore. This summertime he campaigned successful the South Bronx.

While immoderate Democrats and TV pundits person questioned Trump’s determination to clasp what they disregard arsenic vanity events, nan rally guarantees Trump what he astir craves: nan spotlight, wall-to-wall sum and a nationalist audience.

Along pinch trying to energize his base, Trump’s run has been trying to tribunal nan fewer remaining undecided voters, galore of whom don’t get their news from accepted outlets.

To scope them, Trump has spent hours appearing connected celebrated podcasts. And his run has worked to create viral moments for illustration his sojourn past play to a McDonald’s restaurant, wherever he made fries and served supporters done nan drive-thru window. Video of nan extremity posted by his run has been viewed much than 40 cardinal times connected TikTok alone.

“He’s not conscionable going to beryllium speaking to nan attendees wrong Madison Square Garden. There will beryllium group tuning successful from battleground states each crossed nan country,” said erstwhile U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican and state of nan erstwhile president, who said Trump has been talking astir holding an arena astatine nan venue since nan commencement of his campaign.

Harris has besides traveled to non-battleground states for awesome events intended to thrust a nationalist message. She appeared successful Houston Friday pinch euphony superstar Beyoncé to speak astir reproductive rights, and will present her ain closing argument Tuesday from nan Ellipse successful Washington, wherever Trump said up of nan Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Trump will beryllium joined astatine nan rally by supporters including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost his campaign.

‘The world’s astir celebrated arena’

Trump often compares himself to nan country’s top entertainers. The erstwhile reality TV prima has agelong talked astir wanting to clasp a rally astatine nan venue dubbed “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” raising nan thought successful interviews and backstage conversations.

“New York is portion of his DNA. Madison Square Garden is portion of his DNA,” said New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox.

While Trump continues to insist nan rally is portion of his effort to triumph New York — a authorities President Joe Biden carried 4 years agone pinch much than 60% of nan ballot — he’s made clear it’s besides personal.

“It’s nan New York, but it’s also, you know, it’s MSG, it’s Madison Square Garden,” Trump said during a caller power interview. “Guys for illustration you and I, that intends a lot, those words. Madison Square Garden, right? Don’t you deliberation so? ... It’s a very large stop.”

The venue besides has a history successful politics, hosting events pinch Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1962, John F. Kennedy Jr. held a day ceremony astatine nan stadium wherever Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday to You, Mr. President.”

But if there’s 1 spot of Garden history Trump mightiness want to replicate, it’s erstwhile Grover Cleveland accepted his party’s information successful 1892, 3 years aft leaving nan White House. He went connected to triumph nan election, becoming nan first and only president to service 2 non-consecutive terms.

House power could tally done New York’s suburbs

Beyond nan nationalist spotlight and nan entreaty of appearing connected 1 of nan world’s astir celebrated stages, Republicans successful nan authorities opportunity nan rally will besides thief down-ballot candidates.

New York is location to a fistful of competitory legislature races that could find which statement controls nan House adjacent year.

Zeldin ran unsuccessfully for politician successful 2022, but did amended than expected, driving turnout successful competitory districts that helped House Republicans triumph a mini majority. That underscored, he said, nan value of nan apical of nan summons doing arsenic good arsenic possible. He said nan Garden arena is judge to beryllium featured connected newscasts successful areas pinch high-stakes races for illustration suburban Long Island, wherever Trump held a packed, raucous rally past month.

Trump will besides usage nan extremity arsenic a awesome fundraising opportunity arsenic he continues to earnestly lag Harris successful nan money race.

A autochthonal returns to nan metropolis that made him and convicted him

New York has not voted for a Republican for president successful 40 years. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from continuing to insist he believes he tin win.

“We deliberation there’s a chance,” he said connected “The Brian Kilmeade Show” earlier this week, pointing to frustrations complete an influx of migrants to nan metropolis and concerns complete crime.

Trump routinely uses his hometown arsenic a foil earlier audiences successful different states, coating a acheronian imagination of nan metropolis that bears small resemblance to reality. He’s formed it arsenic crime-ridden and overrun by violent, migrant gangs who person taken complete Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Times Square.

Trump has a analyzable history pinch nan spot wherever he built his business empire and that made him a tabloid and reality TV star. Its residents indicted him past twelvemonth connected 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He was recovered blameworthy successful that case, and besides recovered liable successful civilian tribunal for business fraud and intersexual abuse.

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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price successful Novi, Michigan, contributed to this report.