Former President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of his July 13 assassination attempt, for a rally that quickly shifted into his standard format. Despite the tragic nature of the event, within 20 minutes of his speech, Trump began attacking Vice President Kamala Harris and calling on allies like Tesla CEO Elon Musk to help make his case for reelection. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming election, stating “We can’t take another four years like this. We won’t have a country left.”
The rally was billed as a way to honor Corey Comperatore, a former firefighter who was killed at the July rally, and the city of Butler itself, which has gained national attention since the shooting. Comperatore’s family and David Dutch, a rally attendee who was injured in the shooting, were featured guests. Trump also used the event to put the spotlight on new members of his entourage, including Musk, who endorsed Trump hours after the assassination attempt. Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who was named Trump’s running mate, also addressed the crowd.
The rally marked one of Trump’s final high-profile campaign opportunities before the November 5 election, taking place in a key swing state with 19 electoral votes. With four weeks left until the election, Trump used the event to make his case for reelection and rally his supporters against the backdrop of the recent assassination attempt. Several close Trump allies, including Steve Witkoff, Eric Trump, and Lara Trump, also gave brief speeches at the event.
Trump’s return to Butler marked a significant shift in the presidential race since his last visit in July. At that time, Trump was still riding high on the perceived weaknesses of President Joe Biden and was viewed as the favorite to win reelection. However, Biden dropped out of the race, Harris took his place on the Democratic ticket, and their campaign began to erode Trump’s lead. Trump’s return to Butler was seen as a crucial moment in his campaign to preserve his presidency.
The Secret Service took extra precautions for Trump’s return to Butler after facing intense scrutiny following the previous rally shooting and another assassination attempt in September. They implemented changes and enhancements to their security plan to ensure the former president’s safety. Despite the security concerns and the tragic events that brought them there, Trump and his supporters used the rally in Butler to make a final push for his reelection, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election and the need to preserve democracy in America.
