Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has sparked controversy by suggesting that former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday will be a “reenactment” of a 1939 Nazi rally held at the same venue.
During a CNN interview with anchor Kaitlan Collins, Clinton referenced a chapter in her book, in which she writes about the 1939 rally, where neo-Nazis and fascists gathered to pledge their support for the Nazi regime. Clinton expressed her concern that Trump’s rally could be seen as a similar event, saying, “President Franklin Roosevelt was appalled that neo-Nazis, fascists in America were lining up to essentially pledge their support for the kind of government that they were seeing in Germany. So I don’t think we can ignore it.”
Other Democrats, including Democratic State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, have also drawn parallels between Trump’s rally and the 1939 Nazi event. However, Trump’s campaign has dismissed the comparison, saying it is “ridiculous” and “baseless”.
Despite the controversy, Trump’s rally is expected to go ahead as planned, with Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) assuring that the city is prepared to handle any potential unrest. Hochul said, “This is America, so people can have rallies, and it’s their right to gather, certainly, and I feel very confident in the police to handle it, and if they need our help, we’ll be there.”
Trump’s rally is part of a larger effort to boost his campaign in the state, where he has struggled to gain traction. In May, Trump held a rally in the South Bronx, where polls showed him within single-digit reach of President Joe Biden. However, recent polls have shown Vice President Kamala Harris pulling ahead of Trump in the state.
