Street closures planned near Madison Square Garden for Donald Trump rally

Parts of Midtown around Madison Square Garden are closing to car and pedestrian traffic on Sunday in preparation for Donald Trump’s evening campaign rally and the protests that will accompany it, NYPD officials said.

Targeted for closures are West 30th, 31st and 33rd streets to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, between Sixth and Eighth avenues. Also closing is West 32nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, the police department said.

Authorities encouraged visitors to the area to use public transportation. Subways will run as usual; however, riders will be directed to the Eighth Avenue exit, away from Seventh Avenue around the venue.

Madison Square Garden will open its doors for the 19,000-seat rally at noon.

Police also have cordoned off portions of the street around the venue for demonstrators who are expected to protest against the former president.

"While we will always respect and protect the right to peaceful protests, there will be zero tolerance for crime, blocking traffic, graffiti or disorderly behavior," Mayor Eric Adams said at the news conference Saturday.

Chief of Patrol John Chell said that the NYPD has provided policing for 4,300 protests so far this year.

"We'll have many of our police department assets on display," Chell said. "Some you will see, some you won't see, including our federal partners. You will see a heavy uniform presence around the Garden. You'll see heavy weapons teams, counterterrorism, aviation, a transit footprint on Seventh Avenue and many more."

With Matthew Chayes