It’s Not Just About What’s Inside the Venue
On Sunday, around 20,000 Trump supporters packed Madison Square Garden to full capacity, while many thousands more were turned away due to the venue reaching its limit, according to law enforcement.
Estimates varied on the total turnout of MAGA supporters gathered in Midtown Manhattan, but one officer estimated that an additional 20,000 people had to be denied entry when MSG closed its doors around 4:30 p.m., three hours before Trump was set to speak. “I don’t mind, though,” one attendee commented, noting that he had attended multiple Trump rallies before. “Missing one is no big deal.” Officials on the scene reported that the crowd just kept growing, with people arriving from every direction long after the last admitted guests had entered.
One Trump supporter shared that he waited in the wrong line for two hours before ultimately being turned away. “It’s alright, though,” he said, “we’re used to rallies, so missing one is okay.” With law enforcement directing crowds, many supporters who couldn’t get inside instead gathered in nearby bars and restaurants, where they tuned into the rally on TV.
For instance, patrons at Avenida Bar across from MSG wore MAGA hats and socialized while watching the event on TV. “This isn’t our usual crowd—they asked for all the TVs to show the rally,” an employee at a nearby restaurant told The Post. “I’ve even been called a Mexican once tonight,” added the staff member, who asked not to be named.
Getting into MSG wasn’t easy, with some supporters lining up outside as early as Friday. By Sunday morning, about 10,000 people had gathered outside, according to estimates from The Post and local police. Many fans waited in the cold for hours, even holding back on restroom breaks due to a lack of porta-potties, leading some to improvise in alleyways along the sidewalk to the venue.
New York is generally not seen as a competitive state for Trump in the upcoming presidential election, but the rally is expected to boost his media visibility and attract attention in a traditionally blue stronghold as the campaign nears its final stretch. Additionally, the event serves as a way to energize down-ballot Republicans in close races and possibly narrow the popular vote margin.
Trump has expressed confidence that he might “take New York,” though most analysts consider that unlikely. The Queens native has held other campaign events across New York this year, including rallies in the Bronx in May and Long Island in September. He also recently campaigned in California. Trump isn’t the only one targeting traditionally opposing territories; Vice President Kamala Harris recently made a stop in Houston, Texas, a long-time Republican stronghold, as part of her own campaign efforts.
Joining Trump at the MSG rally were several prominent MAGA figures, including Elon Musk, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and GOP vice-presidential hopeful JD Vance, among others.
