Trump Held A Nazi Rally at MSG

With the election days away, Trump and his allies elevated their hateful attacks on minority communities

Last night, in Madison Square Garden, Donald Trump and his allies took the stage to unleash a torrent of hate and rage. The parallels between this rally and the infamous 1939 Nazi rally held in the very same venue are chilling. The sentiments and declarations they made were not just echoes of a divisive leader but, also of a deeply dangerous ideology—one that demonizes entire communities, threatens violence against opponents, and seeks to instill fear and division. Let’s Address This.

1939 Nazi rally (left) and 2024 Trump Nazi rally (right)

The rally at Madison Square Garden was a parade of targeted attacks, one after the other. I won’t ask you to watch the rally, but to Recap in brief, Trump and his allies:

• Demonized Latinos as “invaders” and “baby makers.”

• This also tied to the implicit ridicule of women seeking life saving reproductive healthcare—so misogyny was celebrated at this rally.

• Demonized Puerto Rico as “a floating pile of garbage.” We all recall that Hurricane Maria killed more than 4,600 Puerto Ricans under Trump’s watch, exacerbated by his apathy. Trump further mocked by them by tossing them paper towels.

• Spewed Islamophobic comments about “crushing Jihad.” Trump’s attacks on Muslim Americans has been a staple of his entire political campaign.

• Called to violently destroy the left, repeating the “enemy within” phrase.

• Mocked Black people with racist stereotypes about eating watermelon and chicken. This also included racist comments about Kamala Harris, questioning her IQ levels, and her overall competence.

• Threatened journalists with violence, even fantasizing about “decapitating” them—again, a hallmark of fascist leaders.

• Elevated antisemitism by hosting speakers like Tucker Carlson, who recently proudly hosted a Holocaust denier—and has faced no consequences for his hate.

• Declared "America is for Americans only,” spewed from the mouth of Stephen Miller, a man who seeks to ban all non-white immigration. Miller, if you’ll recall, is a man whose own family members have called an extremist for his anti-immigrant fascism. In fact Miller’s uncle writes, “If my nephew’s ideas on immigration were in force a century ago, our family would have been wiped out.”

• One speaker even called it a "Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden,” admitting what everyone was thinking all along—and he did so to applause from the crowd.

Here’s the thing—this was a Nazi rally in 2024 USA, just like it was in 1939 USA. And media must name it as such. So, regarding the significance of the moment when a speaker himself referred to Trump’s rally as a “Nazi rally at MSG,” the frightening truth is he was not exaggerating. In 1939, MSG held a “pro-American” rally led by Nazis and their sympathizers, projecting their hate under the guise of patriotism. Today, we’re witnessing history dangerously repeat itself—this time, in a modern guise. But this was expected, and we must push back with our voice and votes.

We Cannot Afford Silence from Media or Leaders

Sadly, as we’ve seen, some mainstream media are refusing to identify this rally and its rhetoric for what it is. USA Today’s reporter assigned to cover Trump described it as follows with this grotesque headline:

By failing to name this rally as the outright hate-fueled event that it was, legacy media shields the speakers from accountability and soften the very real danger this rhetoric poses. Capitulating to “both-sides” narratives and declining to call this rally a reincarnation of 1939’s hateful display, some media outlets are effectively condoning the rhetoric and desensitizing the public to these threats.

Naming Hate Is a Moral Responsibility

Hate is not neutral, and calling out hate is not partisan. When leaders and media hesitate to denounce white supremacy, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and misogyny as what they are, they risk normalizing this vitriol. Hate allowed to fester in the dark becomes a danger to us all. And when powerful figures fan those flames, as Trump and his allies did, silence from those with platforms is an endorsement. This is why I was glad to see some prominent outlets, like The Guardian, call out the racism for what it was. They wrote:

Anger and vitriol took center stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, as Donald Trump and a cabal of campaign surrogates held a rally marked by racist comments, coarse insults, and dangerous threats about immigrants. Nine days out from the election, Trump used the rally in New York to repeat his claim that he is fighting “the enemy within” and again promised to launch “the largest deportation program in American history”, amid incoherent ramblings about ending a phone call with a “very, very important person” so he could watch one of Elon Musk’s rockets land.

As a society, we have to demand more from our leaders, our media, and ourselves. Now, more than ever, we need clear voices that will name and condemn hate where it appears. We cannot afford to sit quietly while our neighbors are demonized, our journalists threatened, and entire communities put at risk. We must recognize this for what it is, and we must stand united against it. On October 15 I warned:

In the final weeks of the Presidential election, expect Trump to yet further lean into racism and fascism. His hope is to inspire his base to turn out in larger numbers, particularly in swing states, so he can ultimately lead the comprehensive implementation of Project 2025. We cannot let that happen.

Last night’s rally exemplified this prediction. With just days before the Presidential election, it is critical we build our coalition and rally our voices to ensure Donald Trump does not reenter the White House. He is telling us who he is, the fascism he plans to enact, and the violence he will use to enforce his will. Let there be no confusion about his intentions. And let there be no doubt in what we must do—reject this hate and violence, and vote in overwhelming numbers to prevent fascism from taking hold in the United States. Make a plan to vote, and take your circle of family and friends with you.

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