Dr. Phil introduces JD Vance at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally

New York City — With little more than a week to go before Election Day, television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw gave an impassioned speech to thousands before introducing Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance Sunday evening at Donald Trump's rally in Madison Square Garden. 

To the chants of "Dr. Phil! Dr. Phil!" McGraw started by expressing his love for America. Describing Trump as "tough as an old Army boot," he then mentioned the former president's foes. 

"He’s got lots of enemies, different groups that are scared, and between them, they have impeached him, indicted him, raided him, railroaded him, shot him and sued him. And where is he? He is still standing.” 

And the crowd went wild. 

"He just keeps coming because he loves this country, too!"

McGraw added  he "doesn't like or agree with everything that Donald J. Trump does or says," before weighing in on the topic of bullying and those who say Trump is a bully.

"Let me tell you why he isn't a bully. For there to be a bully, there has to be an imbalance of power. And when there is not, it's called a debate. And he's just better at it than anybody else," said McGraw. "When the Democrats or Harris call him fascist, racist, misogynist or crook, is that bullying? Well not really. It's ugly, but with our First Amendment (which we all want to keep) there's no imbalance of power."

Calling on the crowd to "march for their beliefs" and "step up and not be a bystander," McGraw urged them to protect others. 

"I have spoken to so many children in schools that tell me the worst feeling they've ever had is being bullied and feeling alone and abandoned when they are picked on and intimidated. And not even one other person would step up and say, 'hey come sit with me at lunch, don't sit in a bathroom stall and cry and eat alone. We are not going to let you be alone,' " said McGraw. "And it's the same thing with adults," he continued. "The number one need of all people is acceptance and the number one fear is rejection. And bullies prey on that. We must claim the right to our point of view. We must be critical thinkers. And when we see somebody being picked on, you've got to be willing to step up and say 'hey I'm with you!' "   

McGraw' speech in the Big Apple came after he spent the weekend campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania.

Following McGraw, Vance, Elon Musk and Melania Trump, Donald Trump eventually took the stage at the iconic venue, hosting his hometown rally to deliver his campaign's closing message against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

“Madison Square Garden is the center of the universe," said Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller, noting the venue's storied history hosting events including the 1971 “Fight of the Century."

Outside the arena, the sidewalks were overflowing with Trump supporters in red “Make America Great Again” hats. There was a heavy security presence. Streets were blocked off and access to Penn Station was restricted.

The rally was one of a series of detours Trump has made from battleground states, including a recent rally in Coachella, California — best known for the famous music festival named after the town — and one in May on the Jersey Shore. This summer he campaigned in the South Bronx.

Along with trying to energize his base, Trump's campaign has tried to court the few remaining undecided voters, many of whom don't get their news from traditional outlets.

To reach them, Trump has spent hours appearing on popular podcasts. And his campaign has worked to create viral moments like his visit last weekend to a McDonald’s restaurant, where he made fries and served supporters through the drive-thru window. Video of the stop posted by his campaign has been viewed more than 40 million times on TikTok alone.

“He’s not just going to be speaking to the attendees inside Madison Square Garden. There will be people tuning in from battleground states all across the country,” said former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a New York Republican and ally of the former president, who said Trump has been talking about holding an event at the venue since the start of his campaign.

Harris has also traveled to non-battleground states for major events intended to drive a national message. She appeared in Houston Friday with music superstar Beyoncé to speak about reproductive rights, and will deliver her own closing argument Tuesday from the Ellipse in Washington, where Trump spoke ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Trump will be joined at the rally by supporters including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has spent tens of millions of dollars to boost his campaign.

‘The world’s most famous arena’

Trump often compares himself to the country’s greatest entertainers. The former reality TV star has long talked about wanting to hold a rally at the venue dubbed “The World’s Most Famous Arena," raising the idea in interviews and private conversations.

“New York is part of his DNA. Madison Square Garden is part of his DNA,” said New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox.

While Trump continues to insist the rally is part of his effort to win New York — a state President Joe Biden carried four years ago with more than 60% of the vote — he's made clear it's also personal.

“It’s the New York, but it’s also, you know, it’s MSG, it’s Madison Square Garden,” Trump said during a recent radio interview. “Guys like you and I, that means a lot, those words. Madison Square Garden, right? Don’t you think so? ... It’s a very big stop.”

The venue also has a history in politics, hosting events with Dwight Eisenhower and Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1962, John F. Kennedy Jr. held a birthday celebration at the stadium where Marilyn Monroe famously sang “Happy Birthday to You, Mr. President.”

But if there’s one bit of Garden history Trump might want to replicate, it's when Grover Cleveland accepted his party’s nomination in 1892, three years after leaving the White House. He went on to win the election, becoming the first and only president to serve two non-consecutive terms.

House control could run through New York’s suburbs

Beyond the national spotlight and the appeal of appearing on one of the world's most famous stages, Republicans in the state say the rally will also help down-ballot candidates.

New York is home to a handful of competitive congressional races that could determine which party controls the House next year.

Zeldin ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, but did better than expected, driving turnout in competitive districts that helped House Republicans win a tiny majority. That underscored, he said, the importance of the top of the ticket doing as well as possible. He said the Garden event is sure to be featured on newscasts in areas with high-stakes races like suburban Long Island, where Trump held a packed, raucous rally last month.

Trump will also use the stop as a major fundraising opportunity as he continues to seriously lag Harris in the money race.

A native returns to the city that made him and convicted him

New York has not voted for a Republican for president in 40 years. But that hasn't stopped Trump from continuing to insist he believes he can win.

“We think there’s a chance,” he said on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” earlier this week, pointing to frustrations over an influx of migrants to the city and concerns over crime.

Trump routinely uses his hometown as a foil before audiences in other states, painting a dark vision of the city that bears little resemblance to reality. He’s cast it as crime-ridden and overrun by violent, immigrant gangs who have taken over Fifth and Madison avenues and occupied Times Square.

Trump has a complicated history with the place where he built his business empire and that made him a tabloid and reality TV star. Its residents indicted him last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He was found guilty in that case, and also found liable in civil court for business fraud and sexual abuse.

Copyright MSM/Associated Press