UPDATE | Oct. 5, 2024, 5:57 PM CST |
Butler Township, Pa. — Donald Trump is back in Butler, Pa. at the county fairgrounds where a would-be assassin tried to take him out on July 13.
Standing behind bullet proof glass this time, the Republican presidential nominee hosted the rally in hopes of “celebrating a unifying vision for America’s future in an event like the world has never seen before.”
“Tonight I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and to the people of America,” said Trump. “Our movement to make America great again, stand stronger, prouder, more united, more determined, and nearer to victory than ever before.”
There was a very visible heightened security presence, with armed law enforcers in camouflage uniforms on roofs.
Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, got on stage to speak before the former president and reflected on the events that day while severely criticizing Democrats for calling Trump “a threat to democracy,” saying that kind of language is “inflammatory."
"You heard the shots. You saw the blood. We all feared the worst. But you knew everything would be OK when President Trump raised his fist high in the air and shouted, ‘fight, fight!’" said Vance, who was chosen as his vice presidential nominee less than two days later. “Now I believe it as sure as I’m standing here today that what happened was a true miracle.”
Thousands of supporters showed up Saturday afternoon, including Kim Geyer, a Republican Butler County commissioner who sat behind Trump in July.
“I kind of have mixed feelings about it, but I’m resolved to moving forward,” Geyer said. “I think that the people that may be affected more negatively are going to just stay home. And the people that want to feel the inspiration and the energy from the Trump movement are going to attend to support President Trump and let him finish what he began.”
Billionaire Elon Musk was in attendance, wearing a black MAGA hat. He spoke briefly to the crowd, urging them to vote.
The impact from the 20-year-old gunman’s actions in July still resonate in the mountainous community north of Pittsburgh.
Thousands of people, including children, witnessed Trump and others get shot. Former Buffalo Township Fire Company Chief Corey Comperatore was killed, while David Dutch and James Copenhaver were both hospitalized with injuries. U.S. Secret Service killed the gunman.
Trump honored the memory of Comperatore, who died shielding his wife and daughters from the bullets on July 13. He also recognized Dutch and Copenhaver.
A memorial for Comperatore was set up in the bleachers, his fireman's jacket set up on display surrounded by flowers. His sisters were crying as speakers mentioned him.
“It was a tragic day, and nobody wishes it happened or occurred in their county,” Geyer said. “I believe that the people who live and work here are resilient people. We’re going to move forward.”
Trump enjoys wide support in Butler, having easily doubled Hillary Clinton’s vote total on his way to winning the White House in 2016. He nearly did so again against Joe Biden in 2020. But Butler County was better for Democrats two years ago, when the party's gubernatorial nominee, Josh Shapiro, took about 43% of the vote there.
To claim the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania in November, Trump needs to drive up voter turnout in conservative strongholds like Butler County, an overwhelmingly white, rural-suburban community with a record of voting for Republicans.
Butler Township police and county sheriff's deputies are once again assisting the Secret Service in providing security for the event.
“President Trump looks forward to returning to Butler, Pennsylvania to honor the victims from that tragic day," said Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. "The willingness of Pennsylvanians to join President Trump in his return to Butler represents the strength and resiliency of the American people.”
Just 30 days remain in Trump's tight campaign against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
Copyright MSM/AP