Donald Trump took to the stage Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York, aiming to rally supporters in the final push toward a tight election. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris made her rounds in Philadelphia, engaging voters across neighborhoods with just over a week until the highly charged November 5 vote.
Trump’s choice of the 20,000-seat arena—a New York landmark—drew attention in a predominantly Democratic city. Both candidates are pulling out all stops in what’s shaping up to be one of the closest elections in recent memory, with polls indicating a tight race.
Harris, now the lead candidate after President Biden’s unexpected exit from the race in July, spent her Sunday in Pennsylvania. She visited key spots in Philadelphia, including a Black church, a barbershop, and a Puerto Rican restaurant. She’ll soon rally supporters in Washington, close to where Trump had previously addressed his own crowd before the Capitol unrest in 2020.
Speaking to CBS, Harris emphasized the stakes. “It’s important for the American people to consider who will be behind the Resolute Desk next year,” she remarked, adding, “It’s either Donald Trump or me.”
Trump’s event at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” was packed with notable backers, including billionaire Elon Musk, who has shown public support for the former president. Madison Square Garden’s history includes both political conventions and concerts by global superstars, but it also holds darker memories, having once hosted a pro-Hitler rally in 1939—an association that has cast a shadow over some recent events.
Recently, one of Trump’s own former officials, John Kelly, commented that Trump’s actions resemble authoritarianism—an assertion that Harris echoed. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama voiced her own concerns, expressing hope for Harris’s potential presidency but also a deep-seated worry about Trump’s return to power.
On Sunday, a new poll from ABC News/Ipsos indicated Harris gaining slight ground among voters. At the same time, Trump found support from a group of Arab and Muslim leaders who joined him on stage in Michigan—a critical swing state where Muslim voters could play a significant role in the outcome.
With over 40 million votes already cast, the nation faces a monumental decision: the possibility of its first female president or the return of an embattled ex-president with a controversial past. Trump, 78, has not acknowledged his prior election loss and may contest this result, should he lose again, creating further tension.
Meanwhile, J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, defended Trump’s leadership style in an interview, taking a jab at Harris. “Kamala Harris isn’t facing criticism because she doesn’t hold people accountable when things go wrong,” he remarked. “Trump does, and I’d rather have a leader who takes action when needed.”
