Photo credit: Reuters

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump headlined a rally at New York's Madison Square Garden on Sunday, pledging to "fix" the "broken" US economy in a wide-ranging speech.

The former US president also leant on Elon Musk once again to help outline the masterplan for an improved US economy.

Trump sought to tie Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris to the Biden administration's handling of immigration and the economy, with his new attack line: "She broke it, and I promise you I will fix it."

Despite the US economy outperforming the rest of the developed world since the COVID crisis and stock markets hitting record highs this year, high prices of food, utilities, and housing have left voters feeling uneasy about the economic direction.

U.S. billionaire Musk, who supports Trump's re-election bid, was greeted with chants of "Elon" as he took the stage.

Musk, whom Trump has said he would appoint to lead a new government efficiency commission, claimed the federal budget could be reduced by "at least" $2 trillion.

Trump argued that Americans are worse off now than four years ago and announced a new policy to provide a tax credit for caregivers.

Trump, a New York celebrity for decades, aimed to use the event at the iconic venue to deliver his closing argument against Harris, even though the state last backed a Republican presidential candidate in 1984.

He repeatedly outlined his plans to halt illegal immigration and deport migrants he described as "vicious and bloodthirsty criminals" if he wins the Nov. 5 election.

"On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history," he declared. "I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered."

He also vowed to ban sanctuary cities and invoke the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport immigrants with criminal records.

The rally featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Trump’s sons Eric and Don Jr.

Some speakers used racist and misogynistic language, warming up the capacity crowd. Giuliani falsely claimed that Harris was "on the side of the terrorists" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made crass jokes about Latinos and Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin responded to Hinchcliffe's comments on Instagram, writing in Spanish, "This is what they think of us."

Danielle Alvarez, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, stated that the joke about Puerto Rico "does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign."

Harris, who visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in Philadelphia earlier on Sunday, posted a video on social media promising to "invest in Puerto Rico's future" as president. Her campaign criticized the Madison Square Garden rally, calling it "dangerously divisive and demeaning."

Trump's 2016 presidential opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, accused him of "re-enacting" a pro-Nazi rally held at Madison Square Garden in 1939.

Trump rejected the comparison, stating, "This is called Make America Great Again, that's all this is."

He touted his foreign policy record and asserted that if the United States went to war with China, "We would kick their ass."

Polls show Harris and Trump neck and neck in battleground states with just over a week until Election Day. More than 38 million votes have already been cast across the country. Harris, who held rallies with Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce, will deliver a speech on Tuesday on the National Mall in Washington, highlighting the differences between herself and Trump.

Trump's campaign reported that the event at the 19,500-seat Madison Square Garden was sold out, with tickets available on a first-come-first-served basis. Harris' Houston rally drew a crowd of about 30,000 people, while her Atlanta rally attracted around 20,000 attendees.

"My internal polling is my instinct," Harris said to reporters in Philadelphia. "The momentum is with us."

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