Trump’s speech at the Madison Square Garden rally is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., but who knows if that’s accurate.
Maggie Haberman goes through the various rationales for Trump bringing MAGA to MSG with just over a week before Election Day, including the media blitz it will bring, the opportunity to troll liberals and the city itself — and how it’s arguably the arena he has most wanted to play:
For years, Mr. Trump has measured the significance of his rally venues in part by who had appeared there before. And his yardsticks were usually not other politicians, but singers and other celebrities.
“Do you know how many arenas I’ve beaten Elton John’s record?” Mr. Trump once asked Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, as he prepared to hold an event during his presidency at the Fargodome at North Dakota State University.
And when he appeared at a rally last month at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, Mr. Trump noted proudly that Elvis Presley had played there.
Mr. Trump has wanted to hold a rally at the Garden for a very long time. It styles itself as “the World’s Most Famous Arena” and has presented some of his favorite artists, including Elton John, Frank Sinatra and the Village People, whose song “Y.M.C.A.” is a staple at his events. (As president, he took in an Ultimate Fighting Championship match there, entering the arena to a mix of boos and cheers, and in 2013, before he was a candidate, he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame there.)
CNN reports that the Trump campaign expects to make a lot of money, too:
Sunday’s rally will also serve as one of Trump’s largest fundraisers to date, according to multiple sources familiar with the logistics. Donors have been offered a series of packages, including VIP suites, tickets to an exclusive “pre event” at the venue, backstage passes and photo opportunities.
“The Trump campaign is going to make an insane amount of money off this event,” one source familiar with the guest list told CNN.
In addition to Trump, 29 other people are listed as speakers and performers. It’s not at all clear how long the rally will need to go on to fit them all in, particularly if Trump himself goes long at the end. Here’s who the Trump campaign says will appear:
• J.D. Vance
• Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
• Congresswoman Elise Stefanik
• Congressman Byron Donalds
• Former congresswoman Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
• Former mayor Rudy Giuliani
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Lara Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.,
• Elon Musk
• Trump advisor Dan Scavino
• Trump advisor Stephen Miller
• UFC CEO Dana White
• Tucker Carlson
• America First Policy Institute president Brooke Rollins
• Businessman Steve Witkoff
• Businessman Howard Lutnick
• Businessman Grant Cardone
• Right for America PAC founder Sergio Gor
• Death Row Records founder Michael Harris Jr.
• Moms for Liberty founder Tiffany Justice
• Singer Lee Greenwood
• Opera singer Christopher Macchio
• Singer Mary Millben
• Radio jock Sid Rosenberg
• Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe
• “Live painter” Scott Lobaido
• Childhood Trump friend David Rem
