Donald Trump’s hometown showed up for him during the final stretch of his campaign in a huge way. Estimates of up to 100,000 people attended his rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, with 19,500 inside and the remaining scores lining block after block in Manhattan, ten abreast. Some of those lucky enough to make it inside the legendary arena had arrived the previous day, camping in tents on the streets with no access to bathrooms, all in hopes of seeing their past and future President up close. The remaining queued for their chance, with this writer waiting four hours before being turned away by NYPD after the Garden reached full capacity.
The crowds were energetic and incredibly diverse, with numbers topping any optimistic campaign estimate in the deeply blue city and state. New York has not voted for a Republican president since Ronald Reagan’s 1984 near-nationwide sweep, during which he only lost opponent Walter Mondale’s home state of Minnesota. Since that record-setting cycle, the state has reliably turned-out Democratic votes, not even falling close to a red selection. Still, Trump made sure to visit his birthplace in one final, impressive campaign spectacular, paying homage to the city that built him and that he helped build, despite its current critiques.
Voters came from across the state- and country- to see speakers like former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, news anchor Tucker Carlson, and former First Lady Milania Trump make closing remarks for the 2024 cycle, and experience the unparalleled enthusiasm one encounters at a Trump event. Even in the streets, thousands broke out chanting phrases like “USA” and Trump’s post-assassination attempt slogan of “Fight, Fight, Fight.” Vendors filled the sidewalks, selling familiar red MAGA hats but also tshirt after sweatshirt after flag featuring images of Trump, many highlighting his bloody, post shooting appearance as a symbol of triumph over the opposition.
The crowd was upbeat, and most mingled with a sense of optimistic awe in the massive crowd of likeminded individuals. I spoke to one man from France, who found himself drawn to Donald Trump due to his tax and immigration policies. Another woman, originally from the Caribbean, had driven from Maryland in hopes of catching a glimpse of the former President. The rest had stories and backgrounds as diverse as New York City itself, presenting a realistic portrait of any President’s electorate.
Once capacity was reached at Madison Square Garden, thousands of attendees either waited to watch his remarks on jumbo-screens outdoors, or scattered to nearby bars to do the same.
Two days later, the Trump train pulled into the swing state of Pennsylvania, with this writer enthusiastically in tow. Hosted at Allentown’s PPL arena, the surroundings could not have been more different, but the energy and hopefulness remained the same. Similarly to New York City, the line stretched block after block of Allentown’s quaint downtown, although a significantly smaller crowd and lack of NYPD barricades allowed for a distinctly block-party atmosphere. Groups paraded up and down the line playing music and waving flags, some wearing sandwich boards with slogans such as “America Needs Trump.”
One particular contingent in visible attendance were various members of the “Asians for Trump” group, some who marched around the large crowd carrying flags from Japan and South Korea. Asian American and Pacific Islanders are currently the fastest growing demographic of constituencies, with its total number of eligible voters in the United States expanding a staggering 55% between 2010 and 2020, and now makes up 3% of the critical Pennsylvania bloc. With the state in such central play for 2024, these votes are vital to election victory.
One man with whom I spoke in line, who wished to remain anonymous, came to the US from China in 2016 and supports President Trump because of his dedication to free enterprise and the American Dream, a staunch difference from life under the Chinese Communist Party. Allentown was his third Trump rally, and he was eager to hear the candidate speak again. Given that President Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020 with just 1.2% of the vote, enthusiastic turnout from any one demographic could change the outcome of the entire election.
After five hours on line, fueled by Pennsylvania pretzels and slightly less authentic fried oreos, I finally found myself on the inside of a Trump campaign rally.
Security is incredibly strict, with no bags of any kind permitted, and numerous restrictions on allowable items. In New York City, some women unaware of the Secret Service rules threw their purses away in the security line, determined to get inside and see their President after the long wait. All signs brought for waiting in line are discarded, replaced with campaign provided signage for each attendee. Almost everyone, inside and out, wore some form of Donald Trump campaign gear, with a sizeable portion donning Make America Great Again red hats. There are no assigned tickets, and no identification is checked, with attendees being shown to seats by a significant security force.
In Allentown, the speaker list was abbreviated but no less impressive than New York’s. Florida Senator Marco Rubio joined local Republican officials, as well as newly minted RNC chairman Micheal Whatley. Puerto Rican shadow Senator Zoraida Buxó made a special visit, as Allentown is a majority Latino City, and both she and Senator Rubio made a portion of their remarks in Spanish.
The vote in Pennsylvania is much closer than in Trump’s home state of New York, and he has made his campaign there a priority throughout the cycle, as has opponent Kamala Harris. Some controversy erupted in the leadup to Allentown’s event as the city’s Democratic mayor Matthew Tuerk allegedly attempted to revoke granted permits to close necessary intersections. Tuerk is an ardent supporter of Kamala Harris for President, and attended a campaign event in the city the same day as the rally.
Have you ever been to a Trump campaign rally? What do you think the massive turnout in New York City means for the election?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.