We might as well start with the low light of last night’s Trump campaign rally at Madison Square Garden. That would be Tony Hinchcliffe, a podcaster who is part of Joe Rogan’s circleand who was the first speaker of the evening.

“These Latinos, they also like to have children. You just know this. They do. They do. There is no withdrawal. They don’t do that. They come in,” he joked. “Just like they did to our country.” A minute later: “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. Yeah, I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” It took a few more minutes to get to the joke about black people loving watermelons. New and unusual stuff – for an 1874 minstrel show.

Other speakers were only slightly better. A childhood friend of Donald Trump has called Vice President Kamala Harris the “anti-Christ” and “the devil.” Radio host Sid Rosenberg called her husband, Doug Emhoff, “a stupid Jew.” Tucker Carlson said Harris is vying to become “the first ex-California attorney from Samoa-Malaysia with a low IQ to be elected president.” Stephen Miller filled up blood-and-soildeclaring, “America is for Americans and Americans only.” (In 1939, a Nazi rally at the old Madison Square Garden promise “to give America back to real Americans.” Melania Trump gave a rare public speech that served mainly as a reminder of why her speeches are rare.

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Only after this did Trump take the stage and call Harris a “very low IQ individual”. He promised, “On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history.” He proposed a tax break for family caregivers, but the idea was quickly lost in the sea of ​​offensive remarks.

Non-MAGA Republicans have reacted with dismay and horror—probably at the political ramifications, because they can’t be surprised by the content at this point. Political Playbook, a handy manual of conventional wisdom, this morning Quote Republicans worry about alienating Puerto Ricans and Latinos in general. (Yesterday, Harris visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia and got the endorsement of Puerto Rican pop superstar Bad Bunny.)

“Stay on message,” he begged Representative Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican from New York in a tight re-election race. It’s ridiculous. This – all of this – is the message of the Trump campaign. Other Republicans might cringe at the rudeness of those comments or worry they’ll cost them votes, but they made the choice a long time ago and stuck with them despite years of bigotry and other ugliness.

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Trump continues nativism, crude stereotypes and lies about immigrants. He demeaned Harris in offensive and personal terms. He is attacked American Jews for not supporting him. His disdain for Puerto Rico is longstanding, and his insensitivity after Hurricane Maria in 2017 was one of the most appalling moments of an appalling presidency. He quarreled with the elected officials of the island, with his administration tried to block helpand tried exchange American territory for Greenland. (The Trump campaign said Hinchcliffe’s routine “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” which is also absurd. He was invited by Trump to appear at a Trump campaign rally and joked while sitting at a desk with Trump’s name on it.)

The Trump campaign itself may be perfectly happy with the way it all went. Madison Square Garden, Manhattan’s most famous venue, a place that still captivates him, was full for him. The counter-protests were muted, even as speakers at the rally boasted that they had penetrated the old heart of liberalism. (That The New York Times‘ writes Nate CohnNew York City has moved somewhat toward him, though any hopes of him winning the city or state remain farfetched.)

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The purpose of the rally was provocation. Trump has long demonstrated that it’s better when people talk about him — even if they’re outraged — than about anyone else. The record is spotty: Trump won in 2016 but lost the popular vote, lost in 2020 and led his party to poor performances in 2018 and 2022. But he seems to think this year could be different. Trump is calculating that if people think about immigration and race, they will flock to him, even if they disapprove of the policy solutions he offers (or simply don’t believe he will implement them).

Some Democrats agree and worry that the Harris campaign’s recent turn to attack Trump is a missed opportunity for the Democrat to make a positive case or refocus on economic issues. The pro-Harris Future Forward super PAC warns in an email in which “attacking Trump’s fascism isn’t that convincing,” while Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Harris surrogate, ADVISED that the rally was “bait”.

As a matter of electoral calculus, focusing on last night’s offensive remarks may be pointless for Harris. But as an encapsulation of what Trump stands for as a candidate and what he will bring to office, the rally was an effective vehicle for his closing message.