[US Election 2024]
"Is it better now than it was 4 years ago?" "Kamala, you're fired. Get out!"
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, continued his attacks targeting his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, on the 27th (local time) during a visit to New York, a Democratic stronghold. He also unveiled new tax cut proposals, including a caregiver tax credit.
At an evening rally held at Madison Square Garden in New York, Trump said, "I'm glad to be back in the city I love" and started with a very simple question: 'Is it better now than it was 4 years ago?'" Supporters gathered at the rally immediately shouted "No." This echoed a statement made by former President Ronald Reagan during the final debate before the 1980 presidential election. That question resonated strongly among voters facing economic hardships and is credited with playing a significant role in Reagan's election victory.
By posing the same question, Trump appeared to highlight voters' dissatisfaction with the current state of the United States. He said, "We will end inflation, stop criminals from entering our country, and make the American Dream possible again," emphasizing, "Our country will grow bigger, better, wealthier, safer, and stronger."
Trump also repeated his famous phrase from his TV show, "You're fired." He stated, "The fate of our country is in your (voters') hands," adding, "Next Tuesday (Election Day, November 5), you must tell Kamala Harris that she is a disaster. Crooked Biden is also a disaster." He then raised his voice, saying, "We will no longer allow our country to be destroyed. Kamala, you're fired. Get out. Get out."
Trump reaffirmed that if he wins the November election, he will "quickly build the greatest economy in world history," as he did during his previous term. He emphasized his platform centered on large-scale tariffs and tax cuts, mentioning the 'caregiver tax credit' policy. He explained, "They have contributed a lot to our country but have never been acknowledged. Now it's time for them to be recognized." He also said he would make the full interest on car loans tax-deductible, specifying that it would be limited to cars made in America. Additionally, he proposed a bill imposing a one-year prison sentence on those who burn the American flag.
He also reiterated his plan to begin large-scale deportations of illegal immigrants from the first day of his presidency. After showing a video featuring TV news coverage of crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the U.S., Trump said, "America has been occupied. On the first day of my presidency, I will launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history and expel criminals." He blamed Vice President Harris as the 'border czar' and criticized her as "very incompetent." Trump disparaged Harris, saying, "She is unfit for the position. Everyone knows that," and insulted her by saying, "Her IQ is very low." He again labeled the Democrats and so-called anti-Trump forces as "enemies within," claiming, "They have done very bad things to this country. They have caused great harm through open borders, record inflation, and climate change scams."
The rally attracted attention early on because it was held on a large scale in Manhattan, New York, a Democratic stronghold, near the end of the presidential campaign. For Trump, who has gained momentum with rising approval ratings recently, campaigning in the heart of Manhattan, his hometown and real estate business base, was interpreted as showing confidence in victory and rallying his support base. He had also expressed in a recent Fox News radio interview, "I want to win in New York." Trump supporters showed enthusiasm by lining up a day in advance to attend the rally. Meanwhile, Democratic figures, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had criticized the rally for days, comparing it to a Nazi rally held at the same location in 1939.
Before Trump, speakers at the rally included his running mate, Vice Presidential candidate Senator J.D. Vance, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Senator Vance repeated Trump's catchphrase, saying, "In 9 days, we will tell Kamala Harris, 'You're fired. Go back to San Francisco where you belong. Get out of the White House.'" Musk, appearing wearing a 'MAGA' hat, emphasized that under Trump's administration, "America will reach unprecedented levels" and "an amazing future is coming." Local media, including The New York Times (NYT), reported that the speakers at the rally made racially charged and inflammatory remarks, calling Puerto Rico a "trash island" and Vice President Harris a "devil" and "antichrist," highlighting the atmosphere of the event.
Melania Trump, who had refrained from public appearances, took the stage this time to introduce her husband, the final speaker. She said, "Unfortunately, today, quality of life has declined and economic instability has increased. New York City and America need to regain their magic," adding, "Let's create something for tomorrow." During the rally, Trump also mentioned Melania's recently published memoir, saying, "I was nervous reading it. I wondered if she said bad things about me." He called November 5, Election Day, "the most important day in our history," concluding his approximately 1 hour and 15-minute speech with the promise to "Make America Great Again." Immediately afterward, the song 'New York, New York' played at the rally venue.
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