Melania Trump reveals the reason for her surprise appearance at the MSG rally

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Former first lady Melania Trump revealed why she decided to join her husband on stage at the Madison Square Garden rally after staying away from his 2024 campaign for months.

Donald Trump held a rally in deep blue Manhattan on Sunday, where Melania made a surprise appearance alongside the former president.

Tuesdays Fox & friendsshe was asked why she decided to publicly campaign for her husband now, about a week before Election Day.

“Well, it was an incredible place. I love New York City,” she told the co-hosts. “I wanted to support my husband. So I was there for him and everyone else.”

Melania took the stage at Sunday's rally to a Guns N' Roses song.

She began with an optimistic look at New York City, where she lives and where she and Trump's son Barron attend college. The Big Apple is “the undisputed industrial capital of the world, where giants of finance, fashion and entertainment come together,” she began.

But the city is also “ruthless,” she added, before delivering a darker message: “Unfortunately, today, a declining quality of life coupled with economic instability makes business success difficult.”

She also told the crowd in Manhattan that crime rates are increasing across the country – a claim that contradicts FBI data.

The former first lady then introduced her husband and the two kissed as he walked to the podium and waved to the crowd.

Melania made some notable stops on the campaign trail despite her extended absence. The former first lady attended the Republican National Convention in July and the Al Smith dinner earlier this month.

At one point, Melania was away from the campaign for so long that her absence resulted in “missing posters” and a question, “Where is Melania?” Airplane banner.