Anti-Trump Journalist Urges Democrats to Face Reality About Madison Square Garden Rally
Ohio journalist Ray Marcano offered a perspective on Monday evening’s livestream, calling Democratic “outrage” over former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally misguided regarding the appeal of certain comments.
Thousands of Trump supporters turned out in New York City on Sunday, packing Madison Square Garden to watch Trump alongside prominent Republicans like businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and journalist Tucker Carlson. On the show “2Way TONIGHT,” host Mark Halperin welcomed Marcano, asking for his take on Trump’s momentum with Election Day less than 10 days away.
“I actually think the rally on [Sunday] was arguably the high point of his campaign. I’ve actually been amused by how the mainstream media has covered this. This was Trump in concert, and he won the day — which is everything he wants to do,” Marcano observed.
Marcano continued, “The outrage over the Tony Hinchcliffe Puerto Rico joke misses the point because Hinchcliffe, if you know his work, he pushes boundaries, and he’s given the middle finger to left by telling the woke crowd, ‘I’ll say whatever I want to say in my concert performances, and you can’t touch me.’” According to Marcano, “that’s a message that resonates with a lot of people, especially in the bro culture.”
After the rally, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faced harsh criticism from both media and Democratic figures over his joke likening Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.”
Marcano also challenged the media’s depiction of Trump’s campaign as centered solely on “the white working class.” He suggested Trump may have the “most diverse base” this election season.
“Lastly, the media keeps writing that this is Trump appealing to the white working class, worried about their future in the American society that’s starting to [become] increasingly brown. What that really misses is the biggest point, and that is Trump is building, for a Republican presidential candidate, the most diverse base, the most diverse group of voters of any Republican candidate in history,” Marcano noted.
“He’s going to get 15 percent of the black vote at least. If he gets that much, Harris is sunk. It looks like he’s going to get as many women votes as he did in 2020,” Marcano added. “He’s going to get 40 percent of the Hispanic vote. I don’t want Trump to win. I don’t think he’d be good for America, good for the world, good for anybody. But if this were a football game, he’s in the red zone.”
Political analysts have warned since early October that Trump’s support among key demographics—particularly Hispanic and black men—could impact Vice President Harris. Harris’ campaign has responded by launching targeted ads, crafting specific policies, and enlisting former President Barack Obama to energize these voting blocs.
However, after Obama’s first rally in Pennsylvania with the vice president, he faced criticism for addressing undecided voters, especially black men, with a reprimanding tone. Harris’ ad aimed at men also stirred debate, particularly around its message directed at “real men.”