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2024 election updates: Trump concludes MSG rally with anti-immigrant rhetoric

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

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.

Oct 27, 6:07 pm

More than 41 million voters have cast a vote

More than 41 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.

Mail and early in-person votes were evenly split with nearly 21 million mail ballots returned nationally, the data showed, and about 20.5 million cast at in-person early voting polling sites across the country.

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, 5:06 PM EDT

Harris introduces 'Opportunity Task Force' for Puerto Rico

In a direct-to-camera video posted on X, Harris announced her intention to create a new "Opportunity Task Force" for Puerto Rico should she win the election. It would involve the federal government working "with the private sector, with nonprofits and community leaders, to foster economic growth and create thousands of new, good paying jobs in Puerto Rico."

Harris also slammed Trump for how he handled Hurricane Maria in 2017. Trump infamously tossed paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans at a relief center in the hurricane-ravaged territory after Maria hit. Harris accused the former president of "abandoning the island."

She promised to "cut red tape" so that the island can "urgently” rebuild and modernize the island's energy grid.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris campaigns at Freddy & Tony's Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant, in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 27, 2024.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

On Sunday, Harris visited Freddy & Tony's Restaurant, a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia, where she also discussed her new task force.

On Friday, Harris’ campaign released a new ad titled "Recuerdo" (memory) with singer Marc Anthony blasting Trump over how he handled Maria.

In the minute-long spot, Anthony, who is of Puerto Rican descent, says he remembers Trump's actions and the rest of America should as well.

"I remember after Hurricane Maria devastated our island, Trump blocked billions in relief while thousands died,” Martin says in the ad. “I remember when our families lacked clean water and electricity, Trump threw paper towels and called Puerto Rico 'dirty and poor.'”

“Recuerdo” will air nationally on Telemundo and WAPA America TV during Sunday’s coverage of the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and in Pennsylvania on Telemundo and Univision.
-ABC News’ Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie

Oct 27, 2024, 2:51 PM EDT

Musk calls Biden a liar over 1990s work authorization

High-profile Trump supporter Elon Musk denied working illegally in the United States, responding to President Joe Biden citing a Washington Post report that he might have worked in the country without appropriate work authorization earlier in his career in the 1990s.

"I was in fact allowed to work in the US. The Biden puppet is lying," Musk wrote on X, responding to a video clip of Biden criticizing Musk for working illegally when he was supposed to be studying.

The Washington Post reporting comes as Musk continues to bash undocumented immigrants and stress the importance of "legal immigration."

Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks as Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump looks on during a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt against Trump, in Butler, Pa., Oct. 5, 2024.
Carlos Barria/Reuters

In 2013, Musk and his brother Kimbal Musk publicly talked about their experiences as founders of their company, describing their status as "illegal" and "grey area."

"In fact, when they, when they did fund us, they realized that we were illegal immigrants," Kimbal Musk said during the Milken Institute Global Conference.

"Well…" Elon Musk said.

"Yes, we were," Kimbal Musk responded.

"I'd say it was a gray area," Elon Musk said.

"Yes, we were," Kimbal Musk continued. "I was -- we were illegal immigrants. We were sleeping in the office. We didn't have a car -- we had one car, but the wheel kept falling."

The Washington Post story details Musk's alleged history of coming to the United States in the mid 1990s under a student visa and not actually enrolling in any classes -- instead using his time in the country to work on his startup company, which experts told the Post was illegal.

The article cites Musk's former business associates and investors of his startup expressing concerns about his visa status at the time, to the point that it had become an obstacle to going public with the startup company.

-ABC News’ Soorin Kim and Michelle Stoddart

Oct 27, 2024, 2:16 PM EDT

Walz likens Trump MSG rally to Nazi one there in 1939

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Harris vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz likened Trump's rally later today at Madison Square Garden to the Nazi rally held there in the 1930s ahead of World War II.

Speaking at a reproductive freedom bus tour kickoff near Las Vegas, Walz warned the crowd that Trump and his campaign are aware of the parallel.

"Donald Trump has descended into madness over the last few weeks, and I think some of you don't miss on this -- Go do your Google on this," he said.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz addresses the crowd at a Harris-Walz campaign's "Fighting for Reproductive Freedom" bus tour stop and canvass kick-off event outside their Henderson campaign office in Henderson, Nev., Oct. 27, 2024.
Rachel Aston/AP

"Donald Trump's got this big rally going at Madison Square Garden. There's a direct parallel to a big rally that happened in the mid 1930s at Madison Square Garden and don't think that he doesn't know for one second exactly what they're doing there," he said.

In February 1939, The German American Bund -- a pro-Nazi organization for Americans of German descent -- held a rally at MSG with about 20,000 attendees.

Walz's statement comes after other high-profile Democrats have suggested this similarity, including 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

"One other thing that you'll see next week… is Trump actually re-enacting the Madison Square Garden rally in 1939. I write about this in my book," Clinton told CNN on Thursday.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Oct 27, 2024, 1:50 PM EDT

Harris asks, 'What kind of country do we want to live in?' at Philadelphia church service

Speaking at a Philadelphia church Sunday morning, Harris sought, without naming her opponent, to describe the contrast voters face.

“What kind of country do we want to live in?” she asked congregants. “What kind of country do we want for our children and our grandchildren -- a country of chaos, faith, fear and hate, or a country of freedom, justice and compassion?”

Harris cited Scripture to discuss the “heavy” work required over the next nine days, and the “joy” that will follow.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris attends a campaign event at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

“These next nine days will test us. They will demand everything we've got. But when I think about the days ahead and the God we serve, I am confident that his power will work through us because church, I know we were born for a time such as this, and I have faith he is going to carry us forward.

“And the road ahead won't be easy. It will require perseverance and hard work. But in times of uncertainty, Scripture reminds us, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The path may seem hard, the work may seem heavy, but joy cometh in the morning, and church morning is on its way,” she said.

The vice president delivered a unifying message, saying, “This moment in our nation has to be about so much more than partisan politics. It must be about the good work we can do together, about our fundamental values and about who we are as Americans and as people of faith here in Pennsylvania right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference.”

“In just nine days, we have the power to decide the fate of our nation for generations to come. And on this day, then on this beautiful Sunday morning, I am reminded that God expects us to help him. We got work to do,” Harris said.

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