Trump had wanted a rap and sports extravaganza at MSG. Instead he got a racist debacle.

Donald Trump’s racist Madison Square Garden rally was an even bigger campaign debacle than many may realize. Especially when you consider his original plans.

The most viral moment, bigoted remarks in which comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” and suggested that Black people carve watermelons for Halloween, didn’t just alienate and anger many Black and Latino voters — it appears to have energized many of them to show support for Kamala Harris’ campaign. And that includes some big-name stars.

All of this is quite ironic when you consider that Trump apparently had sought a rally at MSG as a way — however dubious — to attract Black and Latino voters.

Back in April, The Associated Press reported that Trump wanted to host what would essentially have been a rap and sports extravaganza at the famed New York City venue, where athletes and hip-hop stars would speak on his behalf.

According to the report:

Donald Trump says he wants to hold a major campaign event at New York’s Madison Square Garden featuring Black hip-hop artists and athletes. Aides speak of Trump making appearances in Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta with leaders of color and realigning American politics by flipping Democratic constituencies. But five months before the first general election votes are cast, the former president’s campaign has little apparent organization to show for its ambitious plans.

That last line was prescient. At the time, when I read the report, I thought Trump was planning to invite NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. Or, maybe, rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow. Perhaps even Puerto Rican artists Nicky Jam and Anuel AA. Or shoot, maybe even Trump stan Sexyy Red.

But nope, MAGA got nothing of the sort. Just Tony Hinchcliffe, Sid Rosenberg, Rudy Giuliani and the like. Oh, and Hulk Hogan.

50 Cent, the Trump-supporting rapper and media executive, alluded to the former president’s ambitious plans during a recent interview, in which he claimed he’d been offered $3 million to perform at the MSG event but declined. (Trump walked out to a 50 Cent song at a campaign event earlier this year.)

But 50 Cent said he declined because he’s “afraid” of politics and doesn’t like the scene — a surprise to me, given how he was posting pics with Reps. Lauren Boebert and Mike Johnson at the Capitol earlier this year.

It seems like somebody understands that all money isn’t good money.

The Trump campaign didn’t respond to any of the outlets that reported on the artist’s claim. And regardless of whether one believes the $3 million figure — rappers, as we know, have a habit of exaggerating these kinds of things — the AP report gives us plenty of reason to believe that 50 Cent was one of the celebs Trump hoped to have at MSG.

But the stars literally didn’t align for him. And instead of luring Black and Latino voters to Trump, this event seems to have ultimately done the exact opposite.

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Obama slams ‘racist, sexist, bigoted’ rhetoric at Trump’s MSG rally October 28, 2024 / 07:13