Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday sparked significant backlash after several Democratic leaders and MSNBC hosts compared the event to a Nazi rally held at the same venue in 1939.

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Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a town hall at the Crown Arena on Friday, October. 4, 2024.

The comments, which drew sharp criticism from social media and Jewish groups, underscore the intensifying rhetoric in the final stretch of the election campaign.

MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart invoked the Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden during his coverage of Trump’s event. “In 1939, more than 20,000 supporters of a different fascist leader, Adolf Hitler, packed the Garden for a so-called pro-America rally,” Capehart stated before showing archival footage of goose-stepping attendees and Nazi salutes.

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He added, “Against that backdrop of history, Donald Trump…is once again turning Madison Square Garden into a staging ground for extremism.”

Capehart’s remarks were met with immediate condemnation.

A prominent Jewish social media account, “Awesome Jew,” expressed outrage, posting, “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.”

Other users also noted that Madison Square Garden has hosted a wide array of political events, including the 1976, 1980, and 1992 Democratic National Conventions.

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Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden, which drew thousands of attendees, also featured comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, whose remarks about Puerto Rico received widespread attention.

During his set, Hinchcliffe made a comment that compared Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” This line quickly became a focal point for critics, with MSNBC’s Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski highlighting it as evidence of divisive language.

“Americans, who are American citizens, are hearing hate like that, it’s discouraging,” Brzezinski stated. She went on to describe the rally as a moment of reflection on “how did we get here, where a stadium of people come to hate?”

Co-host Joe Scarborough attempted to console Brzezinski, assuring her that Democrats could counteract Trump’s support by “working harder and winning.”

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It is worth noting that the Trump campaign has already responded to the comment from Tony Hinchcliffe.

It is also worth noting that some pointed to the selective outrage depending upon who tells the off-color jokes.

However, online critics were quick to mock Scarborough’s statements, particularly those related to his optimism about Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign.

The backlash also included comments from Democratic candidate for Vice President Tim Walz, who echoed Capehart’s comments, suggesting, “There’s a direct parallel to a big rally that happened in the mid-1930s at Madison Square Garden.”

Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, joined the conversation, posting, “So, we’re really doing this again. Eyes wide open.”

Capehart, no stranger to controversial statements, previously made headlines in 2021 for labeling Trump supporters a greater threat to the U.S. than the Taliban or ISIS.

This sentiment has carried into the current election cycle, with Capehart and other MSNBC hosts doubling down on their critiques of Trump and his supporters.

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The controversy highlights the deepening divide in American politics as both camps attempt to energize their respective bases in the closing days of the campaign.

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