Mon Oct 28 00:20:00 UTC 2024: ## NYC Mayor Defends Trump Amidst Fascism Allegations, NYPD Prepares for Rally

New York City Mayor Eric Adams defended former President Donald Trump on Saturday, dismissing allegations that he is a “fascist” who admires Adolf Hitler. Adams, referencing reports that former Trump Chief of Staff John Kelly said Trump expressed admiration for Nazi generals, stated, “I know what Hitler has done and I know what a fascist regime looks like. Trump has nothing to do with either.”

The comments came as Trump prepares for a rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The rally, which is expected to draw a crowd of 19,000 attendees, has prompted heightened security measures from the NYPD. The city is anticipating protests, but “we are not tracking any specific credible threats to the event,” said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner.

Adams, while urging New Yorkers to “take down the temperature,” vowed to ensure the safety of all, stating, “No police department is better prepared, equipped and trained to handle these events than the NYPD.” Preparations have been underway since September, with the NYPD deploying drone teams, counterterrorism units, heavy weapons teams, and a transit footprint, along with federal officials in a joint operations center.

The NYPD has a zero-tolerance policy for “disruption, destruction or criminality” at protests, Weiner said. The city has deployed extensive security measures due to the political climate and Trump’s recent attempted assassinations. The rally is slated to last from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with road closures going into effect as early as 2 a.m.

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