Donald Trump reacts as Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk speaks as the Republican presidential candidate at a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA on October 5, 2024. Former President Trump.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Return of former President Donald Trump butlerPennsylvania, where his assassination attempt occurred on July 13, quickly evolved from a memorial for the tragic shooting into his standard gathering format.
Within 20 minutes of the approximately 90 minute performance During the speech, Trump attacked Vice President Kamala Harris and turned to allies such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk to help support his re-election bid.
“Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” the Republican presidential candidate said at the same venue as the July mass shooting. “We cannot continue like this for another four years. There will be no country left.”
The Trump campaign billed the event as a way to honor former firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed at a rally in July, and the city of Butler, which has received national attention since the shooting.
Comperatore’s family attended as featured guests, along with David Dutch, one of the rally attendees who was shot and wounded. Prior to President Trump’s headline remarks, several local Butler employees took to the stage to share their experiences on July 13th.
But the Butler rally was more than just a memorial service.
After about 20 minutes of mourning for Butler and the victims of the rally, Trump moved into a more standard stump speech.
“Who is Ms. Harris? We will never know who she is, because if we did, our country would be in big trouble,” Trump said.
With about four weeks until the Nov. 5 election, Butler’s event marks the last high-profile campaign opportunity for Trump to claim re-election in a key battleground state with 19 electoral votes. They became one.
President Trump also used the rally to spotlight several new members of his inner circle.
In the middle of Trump’s speech, Elon Musk took to the stage and praised the former president.
“The true test of a person’s character is how they conduct themselves under fire,” said Musk, wearing a black MAGA baseball cap, a black blazer and an “Occupy Mars” T-shirt. .
“As you can see, I’m not just a MAGA, I’m a dark MAGA,” the tech billionaire said.
“This is no ordinary election,” he continued. “President Trump must win to protect the Constitution. He must win to protect American democracy.”
Trump is facing charges related to his alleged attempt to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Musk publicly supported Trump hours after the Butler assassination attempt, but has been a longtime supporter of Republican candidates and causes. Since then, their alliance has grown stronger, with Musk helping Trump campaign raise money. President Trump also said he would create a government efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government and reduce waste, an idea that Musk proposed.
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who was nominated as President Trump’s running mate days after the Butler shooting, also spoke at the rally.
“What happened here in Butler is a metaphor for the United States of America,” Vance said. “…There is no defeat that cannot be turned into a victory.”
Other close Trump allies also gave short introductory speeches, including real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son Eric Trump, and Republican National Committee co-chairman and Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump. went.
Tesla’s CEO speaks at a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump at the scene of the assassination attempt on President Trump in July in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 5, 2024. CEO) and X owner Elon Musk (photo taken on October 5, 2024).
Carlos Barria | Reuters
Trump returned to Butler on a much different presidential campaign than his last visit.
As of July 13, President Trump was still celebrating Biden’s disastrous performance in the June 27 debate, fueling growing doubts about the Democratic nominee’s ability to win a second term. I put it on.
Since then, Biden has dropped out of the race and Harris has taken the helm of the Democratic ticket, beginning to erode Trump’s lead.
President Trump first announced plans to reinstate Butler in July, 13 days after the rally shooting.
Ahead of Saturday’s rally, the Secret Service announced it had beefed up its security plan after facing increased scrutiny following a rally shooting in July and a new assassination attempt on President Trump in September.
On Friday, the Secret Service promised “comprehensive changes and enhancements” to its communications capabilities and resources.
“The former president is in strict protection, and we take our responsibility to ensure his safety and security very seriously,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.
