Madison Square Garden in New York City will be the venue for a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump during the final stretch of his reelection campaign. The event is scheduled for Oct. 27, nine days before Election Day, and is expected to be first come, first served, with a capacity for over 19,500 people. The history of Madison Square Garden includes four transformations within New York City, with the current MSG built in 1968 atop the original New York Penn Station. The venue has hosted major political rallies and has a history of controversy, including a Nazi rally in 1939.
New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal condemned Trump’s planned rally at MSG as equivalent to the Nazi rally in 1939 and called for the event to be canceled. The Trump campaign responded by condemning the senator’s comments as dangerous rhetoric and pointing to past assassination attempts on President Trump. The rally at MSG has sparked debate and controversy, highlighting the intersection of politics and entertainment in one of the most iconic venues in the world.
Melissa Cruz, an elections reporting fellow, covers voter access issues for the USA TODAY Network and can be reached at mcruz@gannett.com. There is ongoing discussion and debate surrounding the planned rally at Madison Square Garden, as well as the historical significance of the venue in American politics and culture.
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