Former President Donald Trump resolutely resumed his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania almost three months after he was nearly assassinated.
Trump, who was grazed in the ear by a bullet on stage as he turned his head toward an illegal immigration chart, picked up where he left off on July 13 by displaying the same chart Saturday and beginning with “As I was saying…” to the sound of rapturous applause.
“As I was saying…” pic.twitter.com/Uq27tPZGTQ
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) October 6, 2024
“I love that chart. I love that graph. Isn’t it a beautiful thing?” Trump remarked.
“I just want to let you know that tonight I return 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. “Our movement to Make America Great Again stands stronger, prouder, more united, more determined and nearer to victory than ever before.”
Trump honored firefighter Corey Comperatore, a father who was shot dead at the GOP nominee’s first rally in Butler, with a moment of silence at 6:11 p.m. — the exact time shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks unleashed gunfire 12 weeks ago.
A moment of silence for Corey Comperatore 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/meQep7V4JG
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) October 6, 2024
The crowd stood still as Comperatore was remembered to the tune of “Ave Maria” performed live by opera singer Chris Macchio. Comperatore’s seat was marked in the crowd with a memorial featuring his firefighter’s jacket.
God Bless Corey Comperatore 🙏🏼🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/qsN2du81dC
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) October 6, 2024
President @realDonaldTrump hugging Corey Comperatores family after the Butler rally 🙏🏼❤️ pic.twitter.com/vjIze7sgbK
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) October 6, 2024
Trump comforted the Comperatore family moments after he touched down in Pennsylvania. Video shows the Republican candidate hugging Comperatore’s wife and two daughters as soon as he walked down the steps of his plane.
.@realDonaldTrump hugs family members of firefighter Corey Comperatore who was fatally shot at a Trump rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pa. pic.twitter.com/3kKT07hSLs
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) October 5, 2024
Watch as Donald Trump arrives in Butler, PA. for his campaign rally today – is greeted by the family of Corey Comperatore, the brave fireman who died shielding his family from an assassin’s bullets that were meant for Trump. pic.twitter.com/d2Qv33PCRU
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) October 5, 2024
A birds-eye view of the crowd showed tens of thousands of supporters gathered to hear Trump’s speech.
THANK YOU BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA!
Our movement to Make America Great Again standsstronger, prouder, more united, more determined, and nearer to victory than ever before. pic.twitter.com/jC5NYNiSD6
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 6, 2024
Crowds at Butler are YUGE pic.twitter.com/oMSHYCSbrV
— Brick Suit (@Brick_Suit) October 5, 2024
“Everyday people who are the heart and soul of our country. They love our movement. They love our country. And they know they’re doing right,” Trump said. “Your hopes are my hopes. Your dreams are my dreams, and your future is what I am fighting for.”
Trump assured Americans that he would “never stop fighting” for them and joked he should buy a lottery ticket due to how lucky he was not to be killed. (RELATED: Here’s Who Will Be At Trump’s Return To Butler Rally)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who bought and rebranded Twitter as X, enthusiastically jumped on stage and spoke about the importance of free speech. Musk, dressed in what he called “dark MAGA” attire, encouraged Americans to get as many Americans to register to vote as soon as possible for “the most important election of our lifetime.”
“This election is the most important election of our lifetime” @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/j45RLskzOf
— Margo Martin (@margommartin) October 6, 2024
Musk, Trump, and Vance in Butler, PA: pic.twitter.com/t8W0jomKck
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 5, 2024
“The truest test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire. We have one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist-pumping after getting shot. Fight! Fight! Fight” Musk exclaimed, recounting how Trump stood up after being shot, raised his fist to the sky, and shouted the same phrase.
ELON MUSK: “The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire. We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist-pumping after getting shot! FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!” pic.twitter.com/Tl6iBqsIkF
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) October 5, 2024
On Sept. 5, Trump announced Musk will serve as the head of a Government Efficiency Commission if he wins a second term come November. The prospective commission would audit and reform the finances and performance of the entire federal government.
Trump put his second Butler rally remarks on hold for a few minutes when he noticed one rally-goer was suffering a medical emergency. As the former president awaited first responders to assure him the situation was being handled, the crowd began singing the National Anthem. Trump did not hesitate to join the chorus.
Thousands of Americans break out singing the National Anthem with Trump as one rally-goer has a medical emergency in Butler. pic.twitter.com/ffVNXDRUan
— Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) October 5, 2024
Trump reminded his audience of Vice President Kamala Harris’s record enabling illegal immigration, hindering the economy, and flip-flopping on key policy positions after becoming the Democratic nominee when President Joe Biden stepped aside via X on July 21.
“November 5th, Election Day, will be the most important day in the history of our country,” Trump said before promising to make America powerful, wealthy, healthy, strong, proud, safe and great again.