Trump concludes MSG rally with anti-immigrant rhetoric

Trump was introduced to the stage by Melania in an unannounced appearance.

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, Tal Axelrod, Meredith Deliso, Emily Chang, David Brennan, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: October 28, 2024, 6:39 AM EDT

The race for the White House remained essentially a dead heat on Sunday -- with nine days to go until Election Day.

Former President Donald Trump delivered a speech Sunday afternoon at New York's Madison Square Garden. After making several stops in Philadelphia on Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris held a rally there Sunday afternoon.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news developed:
Oct 28, 6:03 am

Almost 42 million voters have cast a vote

Almost 42 million Americans have cast a vote through early voting methods, as of Sunday afternoon, according to data from the University of Florida's Election Lab.

The about 41.9 million recorded mail and early in-person votes were evenly split with about 21 million mail ballots returned nationally and about the same cast at in-person early voting polling sites across the country, the data showed.

Early voting options are now open to voters in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Many early voting periods will last until the weekend before Election Day.

Oct 26, 2024, 4:45 PM EDT

Trump slams Beyoncé, claims support of Muslims

Former President Donald Trump took the stage in Novi, Michigan, on Saturday where he promptly attacked Beyonce’s guest appearance at Vice President Kamala Harris' rally Friday night in Texas and bashed the musician for not performing.

"So Beyoncé went out and spoke for a couple of minutes, and then left, and the place went crazy," he said before falsely claiming the crowd booed.

Trump attempted to encourage his supporters to vote early, but gave mixed messages.

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at Suburban Collection Showplace on Oct. 26, 2024, in Novi, Michigan.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

"The whole thing is--You just have one day voting. Voter ID, paper ballots, proof that you’re a citizen of the United States, please. And you know what? You had no problems," Trump said.

Trump, who proposed a ban on Muslim immigrants and openly made anti-Muslim statements in the past, claimed he was gaining support from Muslims citing the recent endorsement from Hamtramck, Michigan, Mayor Amer Ghalib, who was in attendance, and others.

Trump continued his anti-immigrant slur calling America a "garbage can" for the world.

"I think of a lot of things when I'm up here that are on the stupid machine, isn't it nice to have a president that doesn't need a fricking teleprompter?" Trump said.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soo Rin Kim

Oct 26, 2024, 4:21 PM EDT

Harris talks about reproductive care with Michigan doctors

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a local doctor’s office in Portage, Michigan, to spotlight reproductive rights before her rally in Kalamazoo on Saturday.

Harris gave remarks and heard from health care providers and medical students while there, thanking and noting that because of the Dobbs decision, America is in a "health care crisis."

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks with healthcare providers at the offices of Dr. Rockelle Rogers and Dr. Amanda Henry on Oct. 26, 2024, in Portage, Michigan.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Harris went on to ask questions of the attendees who shared their thoughts on a possible national abortion ban under former President Donald Trump.

"We represent not only a safety net for our region here in the Midwest, but over the last 18 months, we've seen an influx of patients that are coming, particularly from the south and the Southeast because of care deserts and already restrictive abortion bans," Dr. Ashley Sanderson said.

-ABC News' Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie

Oct 26, 2024, 3:34 PM EDT

Biden woos union members at Pittsburgh events

President Joe Biden hit the campaign trail in Pittsburgh on Saturday and courted union members.

Speaking at a union get-out-the-vote event hosted by LiUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America), Biden made the pitch to members that this is the "most important election of our lifetime" and drew a stark contrast between former President Donald Trump's and Vice President Kamala Harris' stances on labor.

Biden sharply criticized Trump's stance on labor, saying that it's in the interest of labor unions to defeat him while also making the case that Harris has the back of middle-class Americans and union workers.

"He doesn't give a damn about union workers or any workers for that matter. He views unions as getting in the way of the accumulation of wealth for individuals," the president said.

President Joe Biden delivers pizza to thank Democratic campaign volunteers at the Allegheny County Labor Council Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa, on Oct. 26, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Biden later went to the Allegheny County Labor Council Headquarters along with Sen. John Fetterman to greet and thank volunteers who were rallying.

The president walked in with pizza boxes for volunteers who clapped, kissed the hand of one volunteer and then took a selfie with another while Fetterman photobombed in the background.

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Oct 26, 2024, 1:09 PM EDT

Harris to visit doctor's office to highlight reproductive rights

Vice President Harris will visit a doctor’s office in Portage, Michigan, on Saturday to continue her focus on reproductive rights before rallying with Michelle Obama, according to her campaign.

"She will meet with Michigan healthcare providers and medical students and discuss how Michiganders’ reproductive rights are directly threatened by Trump’s plans to ban abortion nationwide," the campaign said in a statement.

-ABC News' Will McDuffie, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Fritz Farrow