Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is scheduled to revisit the rural Pennsylvania location where he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a rally on Saturday, precisely one month before the November 5 election in this pivotal battleground state.
Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump and the CEO of Tesla as well as the owner of the social media platform X, will be present at the rally. This marks Musk’s first appearance at a Trump campaign event since he endorsed the former president following the July 13 incident.
During the assassination attempt in Butler, Trump was nearly shot in the head by a bullet that grazed past him, resulting in a bleeding ear. This incident highlighted significant security vulnerabilities surrounding the former president and prompted increased protective measures for his future outdoor rallies. This was the first of two assassination attempts against Trump; on September 15, a gunman managed to remain undetected for almost 12 hours at Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, intending to kill him, but was intercepted by a U.S. Secret Service agent who was patrolling the area prior to Trump’s arrival.
At the Butler rally, Trump will be accompanied by special guests. Republican officials are optimistic that his return to Butler will bolster support among his dedicated followers and enhance voter turnout in Pennsylvania, a state deemed essential for both Trump and his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, in the upcoming election.
“I am returning to Butler because I believe it is my duty to do so,” Trump stated in an interview with the NewsNation cable news network earlier this week. “We did not complete what we set out to achieve.” Additionally, Trump will be joined by his vice presidential candidate, Senator JD Vance, and the family of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who tragically lost his life during the assassination attempt.
Shane Chesher, 37, who attended the rally in July, expressed his intention to return on Saturday, anticipating an emotionally charged event. Chesher, who witnessed the assassination attempt from a position on the stage behind Trump, is still coming to terms with the events that transpired.
Chesher remarked in an interview, “To this day, I find it difficult to fully comprehend what we went through that day.”
Reflecting on his return to the location, he expressed, “It will be a spiritual experience, and I anticipate it will evoke a range of emotions, both positive and negative.”
The Butler shooting prompted significant criticism of the U.S. Secret Service, resulting in the resignation of its director.
Concerns were raised regarding how the 20-year-old suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was later shot and killed by Secret Service agents, managed to gain access to a nearby rooftop that provided a clear view of Trump’s speaking engagement. An investigation by the Secret Service revealed deficiencies in communication and a lack of diligence prior to the incident. In response, the agency implemented additional security measures for Trump, including the installation of bulletproof glass at outdoor events.
In a statement issued before Saturday’s rally, Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi noted that there had been “extensive changes and improvements to our communication capabilities, resources, and protective operations.”
Trump attributed his survival to the moment he turned to view a chart on a large screen, claiming it saved his life. With blood streaming down his face, he raised his fist and urged his supporters to “fight,” creating a striking image from that day. He wore a white bandage on his injured ear for several days following the shooting.
