Donald Trump recounts the harrowing moment when “time stood still” during an assassination attempt as he returns to the site. Explore his emotional recollection.
Almost three months after an assassin’s bullet nearly claimed his life, former President Donald Trump made a return to Butler, Pennsylvania—a place marked by “tragedy and heartache”—to assure his supporters of victory in the presidential election on November 5th.
A volunteer fire chief was killed in the shooting on July 13, which also left two bystanders seriously injured and resulted in Trump being shot in the ear.
“For 15 seconds, it felt as if time froze,” Trump told the crowd. “This brutal monster unleashed its wickedness… yet the villain failed to achieve his goal.”
For Saturday’s rally, security measures were stringent due to heightened scrutiny of the Secret Service following two assassination attempts on Trump’s life, with the most recent occurring last month at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Also present were Trump’s running mate, JD Vance; his son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump; as well as tech billionaire Elon Musk, who endorsed Trump following the earlier shooting.
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During his speech, Trump predominantly reiterated well-known themes, criticizing the “corrupt system,” pledging to restore “respect” in U.S. foreign policy, and promising to close the “open border,” which he argues is a source of crime.
He told the thousands gathered at Butler showgrounds, who responded with loud applause, “You deserve a government that safeguards and honors its citizens by defending your sovereignty, security, dignity, and freedom.”
He also lashed out at his political opponents, accusing them of “slandering” him and trying to interfere with the election. He added that they might have even attempted to kill him.
“But I’ve always been fighting for you,” he added. “And I always will.”
Trump repeatedly mentioned the earlier shooting and included a moment of silence in memory of Corey Competore, the volunteer firefighter who lost his life in the July incident.
“He’s turned into something of a folk hero,” Trump continued. “Our beautiful Corey.”
The former president lavishly praised Elon Musk and made a special effort to invite him onto the stage.
The tech billionaire addressed the crowd, expressing his belief that this was “the most crucial election of our lifetime” and urged voters to register and support Trump.
An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people were anticipated at the rally, causing traffic chaos and bringing it to a halt in the rural town just north of Pittsburgh for all of Saturday. Many attendees endured up to ten hours under an intense sun while waiting to pass through a lengthy line-up of vendors selling Trump-Vance campaign flags, hats, signs, and orange wigs designed to mimic the former president’s hairstyle.
“I definitely admire his determination to return and deliver the speech he was previously prevented from giving,” said Teresa Wilson, a former US Marine who also attended the prior rally on July 13.
“I’d understand if he chose not to return—I know some spectators who were hesitant and didn’t want to come back,” she commented. “However, if he’s willing to stand where the previous attempt took place, then as his constituency, we can certainly show up and offer our support.”
BBC
