Trump packs Madison Square Garden in blue state push, unveils new family-friendly tax break

Rising in the polls and exuding confidence, Republican Donald Trump filled New York City‘s iconic Madison Square Garden with cheering MAGA supporters Sunday night in an historic effort to compete in blue territories and sweep control of the White House and Congress just 10 days from now.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the city I love,” the 45th president, a lifelong New Yorker, told the raucous crowd, which got treated to an All-Star lineup that ranged from wrestler Hulk Hogan to Elon Musk, JD Vance to Vivek Ramaswamy.

Channeling Ronald Reagan’s famous question from 1980 and hoping to repeat the 40th president’s historic sweep in 1984, Trump asked the crowd the question he hopes will determine the fate of the election.

“I’d like to begin by asking a very simple question: are you better off than you were four years ago?” he asked as the crowd roared “no.”

“I am here today with a message of hope for all Americans,” he added. “With your vote in this election I will end inflation. I will stop the invasion of criminals coming into our country. And I will bring back the American dream.”

Trump also unveiled a brand new policy, saying he would seek a new tax credit for family members who take care of loved ones. 

“We’re very simply going to make America affordable again,” he said.

“I'm announcing a new policy today that I will support a tax credit for family caregivers who take care of a parent or a loved one. It's about time that they were recognized,” he added.

The crowd was worked to a frenzy even before Trump arrived at centerstage. Thousands who couldn’t make it into the Garden ringed the streets around it as Hogan tore his shirt off in his warm-up speech and took on the Democrats’ claim that Donald Trump is a fascist dictator. 

"I don't see no stinkin' Nazis in here. I don't see no stinkin' domestic terrorists in here. The only thing I see in here are a bunch of hard-working men and women that are real Americans, brother,” Hogan said.

Fellow billionaire Musk, who has vowed to work with a Trump administration to reshape government, said voting for the GOP ticket will yield a clear outcome. 

"We're going to get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook,” Musk declared.

Perhaps the night’s biggest surprise, former first lady Melania. Trump made a rear campaign appearance to pay tribute to New York as the world “capital of industry.”