A high-ranking New York City police chief drew criticism after appearing on a conservative news channel in full uniform at Donald J. Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, with detractors saying he seemed to lend support to the Republican presidential nominee.
The official, John Chell, who was overseeing security as chief of patrol, spoke briefly to Newsmax, whose reporters and commentators often act as boosters for Mr. Trump and his campaign. Newsmax has positioned itself as a conservative alternative to Fox News and has been accused of spreading misinformation on his behalf.
Chief Chell has appeared several times on Newsmax, where reporters often shower him and the police with praise. Chief Chell has also appeared on shows that don’t have conservative audiences, including Brian Lehrer’s show on WNYC and “Morning Joe” on MSNBC.
On Sunday, Chief Chell sat with Newsmax reporters inside the arena, just before the rally began and as a crush of Trump supporters could be heard screaming and cheering.
“Everything is great,” Chief Chell told Newsmax, noting there were 19,000 people in the Garden and 5,000 outside. “Great atmosphere. Everyone is peaceful. We haven’t had one incident. No protesters. This is a very energetic day.”
He also said that the police had a message for protesters: “Not today.”
The appearance of Chief Chell, who has sparred with liberal members of the City Council on social media and with reporters whose stories he viewed as too critical of the department, drew rebukes on social media. A former F.B.I. specialist and a councilwoman accused him of appearing to cross a political line.
Shahana Hanif, a City Council member from Brooklyn, said the appearance “underscores the NYPD’s troubling pattern of political involvement.”
“What NYPD work is he doing speaking to the far-right outlet Newsmax?” Ms. Hanif said on X.
Frank Figliuzzi, a former F.B.I. assistant director who now is a regular columnist on NBC and MSNBC, said it was a “really bad idea” to let Chief Chell sit alongside “panelists discussing how great Donald Trump will be.”
In 2021, Newsmax apologized for spreading baseless allegations that an employee of Dominion Voting Systems had rigged machines to sink Mr. Trump’s re-election bid. Last month, a federal defamation trial began in a case brought by Smartmatic, an election technology company, which accused Newsmax of linking it to conspiracy theories that it had switched votes.
Chief Chell said his Newsmax appearance was one of eight interviews he did that day to talk about security. In a statement, the police said that all his interviews “remained professional and on the topic of public safety.”
“Focusing on and highlighting one outlet does not accurately depict the fact he interviewed with WCBS, WNBC, Fox 5, WPIX, The Associated Press, amNY, The New York Post and Newsmax,” the statement said.
Molly Biklen, associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said people are “rightly concerned” about Chief Chell’s appearance. “Everyone should be concerned about the politicization of the N.Y.P.D. and anything that gives the impression of politicization,” she said.
In the hours that followed Chief Chell’s appearance, Mr. Trump’s event became an exhibit of angry, vitriolic and at various points racist and antisemitic rhetoric that drew condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.
“The hateful words that were used by some at today’s rally at Madison Square Garden were completely unacceptable,” Mayor Eric Adams said on X late Sunday night after the rally had ended.
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