Marshall Curry, the Oscar-nominated director behind A Night at the Garden, a documentary short that captured the haunting pro-Nazi 1939 Madison Square Garden rally, found himself compelled to witness Donald Trump’s recent Madison Square Garden rally on October 27, 2024. Curry, who documented the unsettling history of fascist rhetoric on American soil, saw both familiar and novel elements in the staging and tone of Trump’s event, highlighting its impact on attendees and underscoring the techniques used to stir powerful emotional responses.
Revisiting an Infamous Venue and Its Legacy
In 1939, Madison Square Garden played host to a shocking event: a Nazi-themed rally attended by 20,000 Americans, organized by the German American Bund, led by Fritz Julius Kuhn. Curry’s A Night at the Garden vividly portrayed how seemingly ordinary Americans gathered to cheer for hateful ideology. The recent Trump rally sparked renewed interest in Curry’s work, with comparisons emerging across political circles. Figures ranging from state senators to Hillary Clinton drew parallels between the two events, emphasizing the presence of divisive rhetoric.
Experiencing the Rally Firsthand
Curry attended the rally as an observer, recording moments on his phone and aiming to understand the appeal firsthand. Initially, the atmosphere seemed casual and celebratory, with attendees appearing as cheerful as fans at a sporting event. Yet, once inside, a marked transformation took place, revealing the effectiveness of Trump’s orchestrated event. Curry noted how normal, everyday people became participants in a charged environment that promoted fear and division, a striking reminder of the A Night at the Garden rally.
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Stagecraft and the Power of Symbolism
The rally demonstrated an acute awareness of stagecraft, featuring powerful music and visually captivating scenes of Trump. Curry observed how the event utilized patriotic symbols and strategically designed visuals to evoke pride and strength. This deliberate staging, coupled with the emotionally charged messages, mirrored tactics employed by demagogues throughout history, he observed, suggesting parallels to leaders who have used such tools to gain and hold power.
A Coalition of Contradictions
Despite the rhetoric targeting outsiders, a surprising variety of supporters appeared at Trump’s rally, including Muslims, Jewish individuals, and Latino supporters. Curry found this diversity perplexing, given Trump’s history of divisive policies and remarks about minority groups. He likened it to a contradictory narrative, where inclusive gestures coexisted with speeches promoting fear of immigrants, invoking memories of the exclusionary policies that Fritz Kuhn once advocated.
Overwhelmed by Misinformation
For Curry, the rally presented a barrage of statements and claims that left little room for critical thought or rebuttal. The overwhelming volume of information, sometimes contradictory, seemed to echo former Trump strategist Steve Bannon’s strategy of “flooding the zone” with information to cloud understanding and stifle response. Curry felt this tactic’s disorienting impact firsthand, as any attempt to critically evaluate one statement was quickly drowned by others.
Reflections from a Filmmaker
Reflecting on his experience, Curry acknowledged the challenges of documenting such events. “It’s already a movie,” he commented, likening the rally to a fast-paced, emotionally charged production where viewers are swept along, losing any sense of agency in the process. Despite the rally’s carefully curated atmosphere, Curry noted an unusual shift when Trump’s extended speech appeared to lose audience engagement, with attendees trickling out early—a surprising contrast to the energy that preceded it.
