Musk by his side, Trump returns to assassination attempt site
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday returned to the rural Pennsylvania site where he was nearly assassinated, rallying a large crowd in the critical battleground state one month before the November 5 election.
“As I was saying,” Trump said as he appeared on stage, pretending he was resuming the speech that was interrupted when he was grazed in the ear by a bullet on July 13.
Mid-speech, Trump called up on stage a powerful ally, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of social media platform X. It was his first time at a Trump campaign event since he endorsed the former president after July 13.
Musk literally jumped up on stage with his arms held high.
“The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire,” Musk said, calling the election a “must-win situation” for Trump and urging the crowd to register to vote.
“Be a pest to everyone you know,” Musk said.
Trump saluted firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shot and killed by the shooter, and two other people who were wounded.
At 6.11 pm, the exact time when gunfire erupted on July 13, Trump called for a moment of silence. A bell then tolled four times, once for each of the four victims, including Trump.
In his speech, Trump hinted darkly without evidence about facing “an enemy from within” more dangerous than a foreign adversary. Of the gunman, he said “a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me” but “did not stop our movement.” The crowd appeared to be in the tens of thousands, many wearing Trump regalia. Some chanted the “fight, fight, fight” slogan Trump used to rally his followers moments after he was shot.
“We’re here to say, we can’t be intimidated, we can’t be stopped,” Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance, Trump’s vice presidential running mate, told the crowd.
Vance rejected the argument from Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats that Trump represents a threat to democracy.
“Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What the hell have you done?” Vance said.
People cheered when Trump’s plane did a flyby over the rally prior to landing as the loudspeakers played the “Top Gun” movie theme song.
Trailers were lined up around the site as a protective measure to block the surrounding view including the building where the shooter had opened fire.
Adding to the carnival-like atmosphere, three parachutists with American flags streaming behind them hurtled down and landed near the building.
“I’m going back to Butler because I feel I have an obligation to go back to Butler,” Trump told the NewsNation cable news network earlier this week. “We never finished what we were supposed to do.”
Introductory speakers at the rally focused on remembering Comperatore, whose family members attended.
