Trump's fiery rhetoric sparks controversy at NYC rally

The resolution of the presidential election in the USA is approaching rapidly. The battle seems to last until the last moment, with individual votes potentially deciding the outcome.

Although the primary contest is in the so-called swing states, where election results are uncertain, Donald Trump decided to meet with voters in New York. The former president's Sunday rally was held in Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous entertainment arena.

Trump warned his supporters of the potential consequences if his opponent wins, suggesting that Vice President Harris — whom he disparaged as "having a low IQ" — would lead the U.S. into World War III and reintroduce the military draft.

He cautioned that "all sons and daughters" could receive draft notices, imagining a scenario where young people would ask their parents, "What’s this small piece of paper?" only to be told, "It’s a draft notice, calling you to fight in a distant country."

Additionally, the former president alleged that both Harris and Biden are under the control of "vile forces," which he described as an amorphous group of "domestic enemies" posing a greater threat than foreign adversaries.

He claimed that he and his supporters have battled what he called the world's most corrupt forces for nine years, urging voters to show, through their ballots, that the country belongs to them, not these entities. He then aimed at Harris, calling her a "radical left-wing extremist" and declaring, "Kamala, you're fired!"

A true surprise was the appearance of Melania Trump on stage. The wife of the former president, who is running for re-election, typically does not speak publicly. However, she made an exception during the rally in New York.

"New York City and America needs their magic back," she urged voters to support her husband.

Thousands of people attended the rally in New York, likely the largest in the current campaign. Many attendees could not get into Madison Square Garden and watched Trump on large screens outside or in nearby bars.

The speeches of Trump’s supporters were characterised by extreme and sometimes racist rhetoric. Trump's friend David Rem labelled Kamala Harris "the antichrist" and the devil. At the same time, businessman Grant Cardone claimed that "she and her accomplices will destroy the country" and expressed the belief that Democrats must be "defeated" in the elections.

Right-wing publicist Tucker Carlson suggested that a potential Harris victory could result from luck and derided her background, referring to her as "the first Samoan, Malaysian, low IQ former California prosecutor" (in fact, Harris has Indian-Jamaican roots).

Perhaps the greatest controversy stemmed from the opening act by right-wing comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, known for the podcast "Kill Tony".

Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico — a territory associated with the USA — as "the floating island of garbage", claimed that Latinos "love making babies," and also employed stereotypes about African Americans and Jews in his jokes.

His remarks about Puerto Rico were condemned not only by Harris and vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz but also by Republican politicians from Florida, home to many Puerto Ricans.

On Sunday in Philadelphia, Harris, who visited a Puerto Rican restaurant, campaigned for the votes of island residents and gained the support of two music stars from this territory: Ricky Martin and rapper Bad Bunny. Puerto Ricans comprise about 5% of Pennsylvania's population, considered the most crucial of the key states.