Trump Pennsylvania rally/ Trump assassination attempt/ Trump Vance Musk rally/ Trump 2024 campaign/ Trump security breach/ Newslooks/ BUTLER/ PENNSYLVANIA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former President Donald Trump will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday for a rally at the site of a July assassination attempt. Despite the security risks, Trump said he feels an “obligation” to fulfill his promise to the community. His running mate, Sen. JD Vance, and tech billionaire Elon Musk will join him at the event, which is expected to attract thousands. The rally comes just 30 days before the election, as Trump competes against Vice President Kamala Harris in a tight race.
Trump Returns to Pennsylvania Rally Site After Assassination Attempt Quick Looks
- Trump’s rally site: Trump will hold a rally in Butler, PA, where he survived an assassination attempt in July.
- Increased security: After a major security failure, Secret Service plans “quadruple” the assets to protect Trump.
- Campaign strategy: With 30 days until the election, Trump seeks to rally support in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state.
- Honoring victims: Trump will honor those killed and injured in the July attack, including a volunteer firefighter.
Trump to Revisit Butler, PA, for Rally with Musk & Vance After July Attack
Deep Look
Former President Donald Trump is set to return to Butler, Pennsylvania, this Saturday for a rally at the site where he narrowly survived an assassination attempt in July. The rally comes just 30 days before the November 5 election, in which Trump is running for the presidency against Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Trump has described the decision to return to the Butler Farm Show Grounds as fulfilling an “obligation” to the community after the July 13 attack. That day, a gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop, grazing Trump’s ear with a bullet. He was whisked offstage, with blood running down his face, but raised his fist defiantly as he left.
The Republican nominee joked about the incident, saying he would open the rally with, “As I was saying…,” but the event has serious undertones. Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), will join him for the event. Musk’s presence adds to the rally’s potential media attention, which the Trump campaign hopes will energize supporters.
The rally, which Trump’s campaign is describing as a “tribute to the American spirit,” is expected to draw tens of thousands. Local hotels are reportedly booked solid, and some rallygoers arrived as early as Friday to secure a spot. Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the event would also serve to honor the victims of the July shooting.
A Tragic Day in Butler
The July 13 rally became one of the most serious security breaches in Secret Service history when Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, climbed an unsecured building and opened fire on the crowd. Volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed in the attack, and two other attendees, David Dutch and James Copenhaver, were wounded before sharpshooters took down the gunman. Trump was also hit, with a bullet grazing his ear, but survived the attack.
Local officials, including Butler County District Attorney Rich Goldinger, have expressed concern about security ahead of Trump’s return. The Secret Service, still facing intense scrutiny over its failure to prevent the attack, has dramatically increased its presence, deploying what Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe called “quadruple the assets” compared to the July rally.
High Stakes for Trump
Pennsylvania is a critical swing state for both Trump and Harris, and the return to Butler County, a deeply Republican area, is part of Trump’s strategy to drive up voter turnout in conservative strongholds. Trump won Butler County with about 66% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020, and the county boasts an impressive turnout rate of 80% in recent elections.
However, the mood in Butler is divided over Trump’s return. Heidi Priest, a Butler resident who runs a Facebook group supporting Harris, said the assassination attempt has heightened political tensions in the area. “Whenever you see people supporting him and getting excited about him being here, it scares the people who don’t want to see him reelected,” she said.
Despite this, Trump’s campaign knows that securing Pennsylvania, with its 20 electoral votes, is crucial to his path to victory. Harris, too, has been focusing heavily on the state, holding repeated rallies there as part of her push to win key battlegrounds.
Rising Security Concerns
Trump’s return comes amid growing concerns over the safety of presidential candidates. In addition to the July incident, Trump survived a second assassination attempt in September when a gunman approached his West Palm Beach golf course with a rifle. Both attempts have increased security measures at Trump’s events, with new restrictions on rally locations and heightened Secret Service presence.
While Trump’s supporters admire his resolve in continuing to campaign, the incidents have cast a shadow over his rallies. Butler County officials are working closely with the Secret Service to ensure Saturday’s event goes off without incident. Rich Goldinger, the district attorney, emphasized that local law enforcement is “doubling down” on efforts to keep the rally secure.
As Trump prepares to take the stage again in Butler, his supporters are rallying behind him, determined to show that the assassination attempt has only strengthened their commitment to his candidacy. But for others, the violence that has followed Trump’s campaign is a stark reminder of the divisive nature of this election.
