Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to return to Butler, Pennsylvania, this Saturday to revisit the site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July.
Despite heightened safety concerns, President Trump expressed his determination to fulfill what he recently described as a “truly obligation” to Butler residents.
Trump made light of the moment his speech was abruptly cut short when a bullet grazed his ear, quipping, “I’ll probably start by saying, ‘Like I said…'” He raised his fist, blood pouring from his face, and was immediately removed from the stage, the Associated Press reported.
Mr. Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will also join Mr. Trump at the Butler Farm Show, along with billionaire Elon Musk, who will also speak at the rally. With only 30 days left in the tight race between Democratic challengers Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, campaigns have been trying to maximize attention to the event. A sign on the way to the rally has a photo of Mr. Musk and the words “IN MUSK WE TRUST.”
Trump’s campaign expects a crowd of tens of thousands to attend, billing it as a “tribute to the American spirit.” Local hotels were reportedly fully booked, with some supporters arriving the day before. By dawn Saturday, hundreds of people were already in line for the rally.
A memorial has been installed for firefighter Corey Comperatore, who tragically died protecting his family during the July 13 shooting. His fireman’s jacket was displayed in the bleachers, surrounded by flowers. Security at the event has been visibly increased, with armed law enforcement officers in camouflage gear stationed on the rooftop.
“President Trump looks forward to returning to Butler, Pennsylvania, to honor the victims of that tragic day,” campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said. The Associated Press reported that “the strength and resilience of the American people is reflected in the willingness of Pennsylvanians to help bring him home.”
President Trump is expected to pay tribute to Comperatore and pay tribute to two other victims, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, who were injured along with Trump in the shooting. The gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, fired from an unsecured rooftop and was eventually killed by a sniper.
The shooting scene is currently secured with a tractor-trailer, wide perimeter and fencing. The bleachers were moved to the side of President Trump instead of directly behind him. Questions remain about how the crooks managed to evade law enforcement and reach the roof of the building, where they posed a serious threat to the former president. His motives also remain unclear.
Butler County District Attorney Rich Goldinger told WPXI-TV this week that efforts have been redoubled to ensure the safety of the event. Sheriff Mike Throop says the Secret Service is deploying “four times as many assets” compared to the July rally as it deals with the fallout from its worst security failure in decades. He said he estimated that.
Butler County, a key presidential battleground state, remains Trump’s stronghold, with the former president securing 66% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020. About 57% of the county’s 139,000 registered voters are Republicans; Democratic Party.
Among those attending the rally was Chris Harpster, 30, from Tyrone, Pennsylvania, who spoke of the horror he felt during the July mass shooting. “It was scary,” he said, recalling how his parents, who were watching from home, texted him as soon as the shots were fired. Despite the shocking incident, Harpster expressed confidence in the increased safety measures and the presence of his girlfriend, who attended his first rally.
Other local residents were less enthusiastic about Trump’s return. Butler resident and Kamala Harris supporter Heidi Priest said the former president’s last visit heightened political tensions. “Every time I see people supporting him and being excited that he’s here, it scares people who don’t want to see him reelected,” she said.
But Terry Palmquist, a rally attendee from Bakersfield, California, dismissed the fear. “If you let fear control you, you lose,” she said, expressing her belief that “God got Trump in his hands for a reason.”
With Pennsylvania a key battleground state, Trump is relying on high turnout from conservative areas such as Butler County to secure victory. Harris has also made Pennsylvania a focus of her campaign, holding repeated rallies in the state as part of a broader effort to win over key swing voters.
(With input from AP)
