The Democratic National Committee is projecting digital messages on Madison Square Garden’s exterior during former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally on Sunday, referencing recent reports that he praised Adolf Hitler and his generals. Trump denies making these statements, and his campaign aides have also disputed the accounts from his former chief-of-staff General John Kelly. This marks the first time the DNC is projecting counterprogramming onto a building while Trump is inside, but it’s not the first time Democrats have used this technique, having previously projected messages on Trump Tower in New York and Trump International Hotel in Chicago.
Some Democrats are drawing comparisons between Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden and a 1939 rally that supported Hitler and the Nazi party at the same venue. The 1939 event, organized by the German American Bund, drew over 20,000 attendees and was met with a large number of counter-protesters. Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz likened Trump’s rally to the 1939 event, suggesting that Trump is aware of the history of the venue and the parallels with past events. Vice President Kamala Harris and others have been increasing their criticisms of Trump as they reach out to voters in the final stretch before the election.
Hillary Clinton and other critics have accused Trump of intentionally choosing Madison Square Garden as the venue for his rally to mirror the 1939 event. Clinton suggested that Trump was “reenacting” the earlier rally, a claim that has been refuted by Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Kelly, who has also criticized Trump’s historical knowledge, stated that Trump lacks an appreciation of history. Despite these criticisms, Trump has distanced himself from the comparisons and instead emphasized his campaign slogan of “Make America Great Again.”
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison has expressed concerns about Trump’s mental state, suggesting that he has become “increasingly unhinged” as the election approaches. The DNC is projecting messages onto Madison Square Garden questioning Trump’s competency, including messages like “Trump = Unhinged” and “Trump = Unfit.” There are legal restrictions in New York City regarding the projection of digital signs without a permit, but the DNC spokesperson has stated that they are complying with the law by rotating through individual messages. The projection of these messages serves as a form of political messaging and criticism of Trump during his rally at Madison Square Garden.
Overall, the DNC’s projection of messages on Madison Square Garden during Trump’s rally is part of a larger strategy to counter his campaign messaging and highlight controversies surrounding his presidency. Democrats are drawing historical parallels to events from the past, including the 1939 rally supporting Hitler, to criticize Trump’s leadership and character. Trump and his campaign have denied the allegations and pushed back against the comparisons, emphasizing their focus on “Making America Great Again.” The injection of digital messages into the physical space of the rally venue underscores the intense political climate and partisan divisions leading up to the election.
