By Germania Rodriguez Poleo, Chief U.S. Reporter
Published: 08:07 EDT, 28 October 2024 | Updated: 13:14 EDT, 28 October 2024
MSNBC has been slammed for comparing Donald Trump‘s rally at Madison Square Garden to a 1939 Nazi gathering at the same venue.
Host Jonathan Capehart recalled the Nazi rally when speaking about Trump’s event on Sunday, saying that ‘in 1939, more than 20,000 supporters of a different fascist leader, Adolf Hitler, packed the Garden for a so-called pro-America rally.’
MSNBC showed images of the Nazi rally at the Garden, complete with goose-stepping and Hitler salutes, as Capehart accused Trump of holding a fascist event at the iconic venue.
Capehart added: ‘Against that backdrop of history, Donald Trump – the man who has threatened to use the military against opponents he calls “enemies from within, who has threatened to use the troops to quell what he says are lawless cities and to use those troops to carry out mass deportations of immigrants – is once again turning Madison Square Garden into a staging ground for extremism.’
But social media users – including Jewish groups – were outraged by the comparison. Popular X account Awesome Jew wrote: ‘BREAKING: The American Jewish community is outraged by MSNBC’s comparison of a Trump rally to a Nazi rally, which they perceive as mocking the Holocaust and diminishing the memory of the millions of Jews who perished during that period.
Social media users including women’s rights activist Riley Gaines expressed outrage at MSNBC over the comparison
Trump speaks while tens of thousands of MAGA fans listen at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, with MSNBC and others quick to compare the event to a Nazi rally
MSNBC showed images of the Nazi rally at the Garden as Capehart accused Trump of holding a fascist event at the iconic venue
Scores of Jewish men in kippahs helped hoist an Israeli flag outside the Trump NYC rally, which MSNBC likened to an event held by the Nazis
Others pointed out that that MSG has held many political events in the past, including the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
One X user wrote: ‘MSNBC just called 20.000 Trump supporters nazi’s. Let that sink in.’
‘They must have forgotten that the DNC held their convention there for Bill Clinton,’ said another.
A third added: ‘MSNBC is a shameful extension of the Democrat Party of hate and division.’
But it wasn’t just MSNBC that made the controversial comparison – democratic candidate for VP Tim Walz said: ‘There’s a direct parallel to a big rally that happened in the mid-1930s at Madison Square Garden.’
Donald Trump addressed a huge crowd of cheering supporters. MSNBC highlighted how the same venue held a Nazi rally in 1939 – although it’s also hosted multiple high-profile Democrat events since then too
Trump’s niece Mary Trump also compared his event at MSQ to a Nazi rally, writing: ‘So, we’re really doing this again. Eyes wide open’
Long lines form before sunrise ahead of Trump rally in NYC
Walz added: ‘And don’t think that he doesn’t know for one second exactly what they’re doing there.’
Trump’s niece Mary Trump also compared his event at MSQ to a Nazi rally, writing: ‘So, we’re really doing this again. Eyes wide open.’
Democrats have increasingly started to brand Trump a fascist and liken him to Adolf Hitler in recent weeks, as liberal fears of a Trump landslide increase.
Kamala Harris herself agreed with an assertion that Trump is a ‘fascist’ during a recent TV appearance. Despite a dazzling start to her campaign, the VP appears to have lost her early momentum.
Host Jonathan Capehart recalled the Nazi rally when speaking about Trump’s event on Sunday
Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, wave to the assembled Democratic delegates in Madison Square Garden in 1976
Former VP Al Gore and Clinton are seen together at MSQ in 1992
Moment 20,000 fans roar as Donald Trump arrives on NY’s MSG stage
Polls show the race too close to call, but many on both left and right are starting to predict a humiliating defeat for Harris.
MSNBC’s Capehart is no stranger to on-air controversies – back in January he cried as he reflected on the memory of the January 6 2021 riots at the Capitol.
The emotional episode unfolded while Capeheart was in the midst of promoting former DC police officer Michael Fanone’s book on the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Fanone cleared his throat uncomfortably as Capeheart got very personal.
Many pointed out that that MSG has held many political events in the past, including the 1992 Democratic National Convention.
Back in 2021, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the same MSNBC host announced that he believed that Trump supporters are more of a threat than the Taliban or ISIS.
Capehart called out ‘MAGA and the domestic threat’, which he said was far ‘more worrisome than any foreign threat’, during an appearance at PBS NewsHour.
Trump’s rally on Sunday at Madison Square Garden follows a long line of political events at the storied New York City arena.
Donald Trump embraces Melania Trump during a rally at Madison Square Garden
Elon Musk is pictured with his mother Mae, son Tao and former first lady Melania Trump at Sunday’s rally
Melania Trump’s surprise appearance at Madison Square Garden rally
The Garden has hosted both Democratic and Republican National Conventions since the 1800s, and in 1939, thousands joined back-to-back pro-Nazi and Communist Party rallies in the lead-up to World War II.
Marilyn Monroe took the stage in 1962 to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy, adding to the lore surrounding what the New York Knicks announcer calls ‘the world’s most famous arena!’