Former President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, the location of an assassination attempt on his life earlier this year, transforming what began as a commemoration into a lively rally for his 2024 presidential campaign. The event, held on October 14, marked one of Trump’s final major rallies in the run-up to the November election.
In his 90-minute speech, Trump acknowledged the July 13 shooting that claimed the life of firefighter Corey Comperatore, before quickly shifting to his familiar campaign themes. “Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” Trump declared, rallying the crowd. “We can’t take another four years like this.”
The rally was originally billed as a tribute to Comperatore and Butler, now synonymous with national political attention since the tragic shooting. Family members of Comperatore, as well as David Dutch, a rally attendee injured during the event, were honored guests. Local officials also took the stage to recount their experiences from that harrowing day.
Yet, despite the somber opening, Trump soon pivoted to his characteristic campaign rhetoric, targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and energizing his supporters. “Who’s Harris? We can’t find out who she is, because if we do, our country is going to be in big trouble,” Trump said, taking aim at his Democratic opponent with just weeks remaining before Election Day.
Joining Trump on stage was Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who made a rare public endorsement, lauding Trump’s resilience. Wearing a black MAGA cap and “Occupy Mars” t-shirt, Musk said, “The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire…President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution.”
LIVE: Trump Rally in Butler, #Pennsylvania https://t.co/fUN8UgDJDl
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2024
Musk’s relationship with Trump has grown since publicly endorsing him in July, following the assassination attempt. Musk has since become an active fundraiser for Trump’s campaign and endorsed policy ideas like auditing the federal government for waste—a concept Trump has embraced.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, also took the stage, declaring that Butler was “a metaphor for the United States of America…There is no defeat we cannot turn into victory.”
The rally was held under tight security, with the Secret Service enhancing its protection following the July 13 shooting and a second assassination attempt on Trump in September. Despite the high stakes and heightened tensions, Trump remained confident, using the Butler rally to galvanize his supporters ahead of the critical November election.
