“Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted former President Donald Trump’s packed event in Madison Square Garden as a “mini-Jan. 6 rally.”
“This was a hate rally,” Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “This was not just a presidential rally. This was also not just a campaign rally.”
“I think it’s very important for people to understand that these are mini-Jan. 6 rallies. These are mini-‘Stop the Steal’ rallies,” she added, referencing Trump’s organized protest with his supporters against the 2020 presidential election results.
Former President Donald Trump speaking at a campaign rally in Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27, 2024. Stephen Yang
Trump supporters holding up campaign signs during the MSG rally. Stephen Yang
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the MSG event a “hate rally.” Twitch/ AOC“These are rallies to prime an electorate into rejecting the results of an election if it doesn’t go the way that they want,” the Bronx Democrat claimed.
Much of the outrage focused on comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s crude jokes about Hispanics and Puerto Rico — the latter of which earned swift denunciations from Republicans.
A large crowd of Trump supporters lining up in Manhattan to attempt to get into the MSG rally. Stephen Yang“There’s a lot going on. There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe mocked.
“This is not a joke. It’s completely classless & in poor taste,” responded Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.).
“Puerto Rico is the crown jewel of the Caribbean & home to many of the most patriotic Americans I know,” he said on X. “@TonyHinchcliffe clearly isn’t funny & definitely doesn’t reflect my values or those of the Republican Party.”
The rally drew 20,000 people to arena. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesOcasio-Cortez accused Trump and his allies of trying to hide behind Hinchcliffe’s attempt at humor.
“The campaign is scrambling, and they’re trying to blame this rhetoric on a so-called comedian,” she went on. “This is not a comedian. This is the Trump campaign.”
“They invited this rhetoric on their stage for a reason. It was a chorus of speakers on that campaign for a reason. It was vetted, and they knew exactly who was going to say what before they went on,” she claimed.
“And so the only backtracking that they’re doing right now is just because tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans happen to live in Philadelphia, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and they and also the several swing seats … in the House of Representatives that run through the state of New York,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“Due to President Trump’s plans to cut taxes, end inflation, and stop the surge of illegal immigrants at the southern border, he has more support from the Hispanic American community than any Republican in recent history,” said Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
“These jokes do not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” added Trump campaign senior adviser Danielle Alvarez.
The speech was not vetted beforehand by the Republican campaign, according to an official.





