Coverage on this live blog has ended.
What's happening on the campaign trail today
- Former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, rallied tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City, though their remarks were at times overshadowed by disparaging jokes about minority groups and other crude remarks from allies during the pre-program lineup.
- Vice President Kamala Harris spent the day in Philadelphia. Her stops in the western and northern parts of the city included speaking at a church service, visiting a barbershop and stopping at a Puerto Rican restaurant.
- Harris surrogates also hit the campaign trail, with Sen. Bob Casey and singer John Legend also spending the day in Philadelphia and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, encouraging early voting during a stop today in Las Vegas.
For months, NBC News has been interviewing undecided voters in the critical battleground states who will ultimately decide who will win the presidential election. NBC News’ Dasha Burns went back to undecided voters our team met earlier this year to ask whether they had reached decisions on whom to vote for or whether they will vote at all.
Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally overshadowed by his allies’ crude and racist remarks
Trump delivered his standard lines on topics from immigration to the economy tonight at a packed rally at Madison Square Garden, an event that was designed to be the start of his closing argument nine days out from Election Day at a venue off the battleground map that he has wanted to campaign at for years.
But Trump’s remarks in his hometown, New York City, which went for more than an hour, were overshadowed by comments made by warm-up speakers in the roughly five hours before his prime-time address. They included a comedian’s racist jokes about Latinos and Black Americans and were condemned by multiple Republican members of Congress, as well as speakers who used increasingly inflammatory language to describe Harris.
Voters say they think celebrity endorsements will help get-out-the-vote efforts
Voters at a John Legend canvassing event in Philadelphia said they think celebrity endorsements could play a role in get-out-the-vote efforts.
"His tone was really, like, inspiring, so I feel like I’ll go door-knocking because of that," said 18-year-old Anike Akinfolarin.
"To see somebody that you, like, look up to and aspire to be to be interested, to be as interested in this election, it just makes it want to be like, 'OK, yeah, I do want to vote. I do want to get involved,'" said 19-year-old Odelia Akaho.
Voter Jodi Schatz said she thinks it makes "a difference when a celebrity has some personal experience related to some of the issues," pointing to Legend's talking about reproductive rights. Legend and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, have discussed Teigen's having an abortion after she experienced severe pregnancy complications.
"I think that when you have a celebrity that can speak about how candidates’ policies and positions affect them personally and that then can translate for other people to see, I think that’s important," Schatz said.
Trump attempts to put forth a message of hope as his allies weigh a tight race
Trump offered his supporters and allies a message of hope tonight, promising to “fix” what he said his opponent, Harris, had “broken” and warning that a Harris presidency could lead to a military draft.
Even amid palpable enthusiasm from close allies was the sense that the race continues to sit on a knife's edge. From the stage, however, Tucker Carlson offered a more resolute stance, saying to rousing applause, “Donald Trump’s going to win.”
Harris and Trump campaigns broadcast dueling TV ads during Eagles game
The Harris and Trump campaigns used the Philadelphia Eagles' game today as an opportunity to broadcast their campaign messages to the residents of battleground Pennsylvania.
Harris' campaign aired an ad titled “Philly vs. Trump,” which uses negative comments Trump has made about the city. Meanwhile, Trump featured video from the July 13 assassination attempt in an ad titled “Never Quit.”
Trump says he would let anti-vaccine advocate RFK Jr. 'go wild on health'
Trump said during his rally that he would let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "go wild" on public health issues if elected.
"I'm going to let him go wild on health," Trump said. "I'm going to let him go wild on the food. I'm going to let him go wild on medicines."
Kennedy, who at first sought the presidency as a Democrat before he endorsed Trump later in the cycle, is an outspoken anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist.
Musician John Legend says he's 'certain' Black men will show up for Harris amid signs Trump is making inroads
Musician John Legend spent the day campaigning alongside Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in Philadelphia today. In an interview, Legend said that out of all the songs in his discography, the one that represents this election the most is “Glory.”
About recent polling that has shown Black men shifting toward Trump, Legend said he was “certain” they would show up for Harris during the election.
“I believe Black men are going to show up and make the right decision. I believe they’re going to show up for their communities. To protect their families and their communities from another term of Donald Trump,” he said.
Legend cited abortion and reproductive rights as key issues for him and said the path to victory runs through Philadelphia, where he went to college.
Asked about the importance of celebrity endorsements in this election, Legend said the “most important thing is our candidates.”
“We are well-known people, and hopefully we’ll get enough attention on the candidates so that they can go out there and win these elections. But we know that the important work is what they do and they’re representing the people and they’re listening to the people. And I believe that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and Sen. Casey have great plans for the future of this nation,” he said.
Melania Trump makes rare campaign appearance
Former first lady Melania Trump made a rare appearance to speak at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally.
It is her first campaign rally speech this cycle. She attended the Republican National Convention in the summer.
She introduced her husband as he took the stage.
Elected Republicans condemn Trump rally speaker's derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico
Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., and Sen. Rick Scott, R- Fla., condemned a comedian at the Trump rally who made derogatory comments about Puerto Rico.
"Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage,'" Salazar said on X.
"This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values," she continued. "Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!"
Scott also chimed in, saying: "This joke bombed for a reason. It’s not funny and it’s not true."
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said during the Trump rally: “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”
Top Trump allies spotted at MSG rally
Spotted in the arena in Madison Square Garden: top Trump allies and supporters such as hedge fund chief Scott Bessent, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Trump administration appointee Callista Gingrich sat on the floor by the stage, while Trump’s top aides Chris LaCivita, Susie Wiles and Corey Lewandowski circulated in the upper levels.
Also seen hobnobbing with allies were Hope Hicks and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.