BUTLER, Pa. (KDKA) — Former President Donald Trump held a rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, where, almost three months ago, he was nearly assassinated. Appearing with him for the first time on the campaign trail was billionaire Elon Musk.
“Tonight I returned 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,” Trump said during his opening remarks at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
“For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper’s perch not so far away,” Trump said. “But by the hand of providence and the grace of God, that villain did not succeed in his goal, did not come close.”
He also praised the “men and women of the U.S. Secret Service who threw their bodies on top of mine without even a thought for their own lives.”
“There was not even a moment of doubt in their minds,” Trump added.
Trump also paid tribute to firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the July 13 assassination attempt. Comperatore’s widow and daughters were in attendance Saturday.
I can only begin to imagine the depths of your grief,” Trump told the Comperatore family. “…Our hearts, for as long as we live, everybody in this stadium, and everybody that was there on that tragic evening, we think about Corey, we think about him a lot.”
He asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silence in Comperatore’s memory prior to the playing of “Ave Maria.”
Musk, donning a MAGA hat, later appeared on stage with Trump, calling the November election “the most important of our lifetime.”
The Tesla founder repeated several common Republican talking points, alleging that Democrats want to “take away freedom of speech” and “the right to bear arms,” and claiming that Trump “must win to preserve the Constitution, to preserve democracy in America.”
“This election could be decided by 1,000 votes, 500 votes,” Musk said.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Prior to Trump’s address, his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, also spoke. As he has before, Vance claimed, without evidence, that it was Democratic rhetoric that led to the assassination attempt in Butler, as well as the apparent assassination attempt on Sept. 15 in West Palm Beach, Florida, saying “it was only a matter of time before somebody tried to kill him.”
“And with all the hatred they have spewed at President Trump, it was only a matter of time before somebody tried to kill him,” Vance told the crowd. “And that’s exactly what happened, not just here in Butler, Pennsylvania, but just a few weeks later in Florida, three weeks ago, while these guys still go out there and attacking him as a threat to democracy.”
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, and his wife, Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee, also addressed the crowd.
“Donald Trump was made for such a time as this,” Lara Trump said.
Security for this Trump rally is different
On July 13, Trump was grazed in the ear, firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed and two others were injured when Thomas Crooks opened fire from the top of a nearby building.
According to the guest list, rally attendees included one of the men who was injured at the July 13 rally, along with Malphine Fogel, the mother of Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania native imprisoned in Russia.
Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said the Butler County Emergency Services Agency was a unified communications bridge between the U.S. Secret Service, state and local police, fire, and EMS.
Unlike the first rally on July 13, there was one command post. In that post, one person from all law enforcement and emergency services agencies worked the rally.
During the first rally, three separate radio systems created communication delays. On Saturday, there was one for state and local police and one for the Secret Service. A Secret Service agent was also embedded with each state and local team.
Goldinger told KDKA-TV earlier this week that the snipers posted inside the AGR building where Crooks fired from have been asked to help again. Law enforcement will also be on top of the AGR building.
Man who was behind Trump during shooting says he’ll be back
One person who was expected to be in the crowd was a man who was sitting behind Trump when the former president was grazed by the bullet.
Chesher said he witnessed the attempted assassination of Trump.
“It’s been a couple of months but I’m still processing what happened that day. The emotions are all over the place,” Chesher said.
“We’re forever connected to President Trump now,” Chesher said.
Not far away from Chesher, others were struck, including Comperatore, who died as a result of being hit by a bullet meant Trump.
Chesher said he believes there will be “a spiritual positivity” at the rally on Saturday. Chesher also said he believes he will be sitting behind Trump again on Saturday.
As for being worried about more violence, given what occurred, Chesher believes Saturday’s event will be a safe one.
“He said it should be the most secure event. In my heart, I believe it will be the most secure event. I think God’s on our side though,” Chesher said.
Chesher said he’s hoping to talk to the former president, and regardless, he hopes the event is peaceful.
Construction could cause traffic issues
With construction on Route 68, traffic could be an issue. Cars were backing up on Friday. Route 68 is one of the ways into the Butler Farm Show grounds, and Meridian Road on the other side is partially closed.
It’s going to be difficult travel tomorrow getting here to where you gotta park,” Butler County DA Richard Goldinger said.
Goldinger said local police will be assisting with traffic. State police will help. With construction near the farm show complex, Goldinger said to be patient and follow the officers’ and troopers’ instructions.
“Follow their orders. Don’t drive in closed lanes or anything like that. We want everybody to be safe,” Goldinger said.
While there is parking at the farm show, some nearby lots were selling spaces. One right next to the grounds was selling spots for $20. Some people were already paying to park on Friday. The property owner says they could fit about 400 cars and will have four to five people out getting the money and cars into the lot.
The district attorney was calling on people to have patience and plan on Saturday being a longer day out. The traffic between people, politicians and other celebrities is expected to slow down the flow of everything.
“It doesn’t change the fact that this road is under construction so it’s going to be slow travel,” Goldinger said.
