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 27, 2024, 8:03 PM EDT

Trump doubles down on 'enemy from within' rhetoric

Former President Donald Trump renewed his previous comments suggesting political opponents are a threat to the U.S., calling them "enemies from within."

"When I say 'the enemy within,' the other side goes crazy," Trump said Sunday on the Madison Square Garden stage. "They have done very bad things, they are indeed the enemy from within," he said.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York City, Oct. 27, 2024.
Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Trump previously floated the rhetoric during an appearance on Fox News earlier this month.

"I think the bigger problem are the people from within," Trump told Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo, claiming Democrats are more of a threat to the 2024 presidential election than top foreign adversaries such as China and Russia.

"We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics," Trump said at the time.

Trump suggested deploying the military against them on American soil, arguing without proof they would be more likely to sow chaos on Nov. 5 than his supporters -- despite what transpired on Jan. 6, 2021.

"I think it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can't let that happen," Trump told Bartiromo.

Oct 27, 2024, 7:43 PM EDT

Trump repeats falsehoods about FEMA and Springfield

During his campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, former President Donald Trump attacked FEMA and the Biden-Harris administration's hurricane response.

He called their response to Hurricane Helene "egregious" and "the worst response in North Carolina and other states since Katrina."

"They haven't even responded in North Carolina. There's nobody, they don't see any FEMA," Trump falsely claimed about the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Turning his attention to illegal immigration, the former president again repeated falsehoods about Springfield, Ohio.

"You take a look at Springfield, Ohio," he said, "... where 30,000 illegal migrants were put into a town of 50,000 people."

Oct 27, 2024, 7:30 PM EDT

DNC projects messages about Trump onto Madison Square Garden during rally

During former President Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, the DNC projected artwork that reads "Trump = Unhinged," "Trump Praised Hitler," "Trump = Unfit," "Trump = Unstable" and "Trump = Cheat."

PHOTO: The DNC Projects Messages About Trump Onto Madison Square Garden During His Rally
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: The DNC projects a message reading "Trump = Cheat" onto Madison Square Garden during his campaign rally on October 27, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for DNC)
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for DNC

Oct 27, 2024, 7:18 PM EDT

Trump takes the stage at Madison Square Garden

"I'm thrilled to be back in this city I love," former President Donald Trump said as he took the stage at New York City's Madison Square Garden.