Nearly three months after an assassin’s bullet came close to taking his life, former President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania – a place of “tragedy and heartache” – to promise his supporters victory in the November 5 presidential election.
One person — a volunteer fire chief — was killed in the July 13 shooting, which also left two bystanders seriously injured and Trump shot in the ear.
“15 seconds, time stands still,” Trump told the crowd. “This ferocious monster has revealed evil … the criminal has failed in his goal.”
At Saturday’s meeting, however, security was tight – the result of increased scrutiny by the Secret Service after two assassination attempts on Trump – for the second time in the past month at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Also in attendance were Trump’s former running mate, JD Vance, along with son Eric Trump, daughter-in-law Lara Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who supported Trump after the earlier shooting.
Trump stuck to the usual talking points during his speech, insulting the “rogue system”, promising to restore “respect” to American foreign policy and vowing to close the “open border”, which he says is a source of crime.
“You deserve a government that protects and respects its citizens, and that protects your sovereignty, your safety, your dignity and your freedom,” he told the thousands gathered at the Butler fairgrounds to loud applause.
He also lashed out at his political opponents, accusing them of “slandering” him and trying to interfere in the election, and “who knows – maybe he even tried to kill me.”
“But I never stopped fighting for you,” he added. “I won’t.”
Trump has repeatedly spoken about previous shootings, and the event included a moment of silence for Corey Competore, a volunteer firefighter who was killed in the July shooting.
“He has become a hero to mankind,” Trump added. “Our beautiful Corey.”
The former president praised Elon Musk and went out of his way to invite him on stage.
The tech billionaire told the crowd that he thought this was “the most important election of our lifetime” and urged voters to register and vote for Trump.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 people were expected for the rally, which brought traffic to a standstill in the rural town north of Pittsburgh throughout Saturday. Many waited up to 10 hours in the scorching sun to be released from dozens of vendors selling Trump-Vance campaign flags, hats, signs and orange wigs meant to mimic the former president.
“I certainly admire his willingness to come back here to give the last speech he was banned from,” said Teresa Wilson, a former US Marine who also attended the previous meeting on July 13.
“I could understand if he avoided coming back – I know some viewers who didn’t want to come back, and others who were very scared,” he added. “If he can stand up from the previous effort, we as his district can show our support.”
With 31 days left for Americans to vote, polls show Trump and Kamala Harris in a tight race in Pennsylvania — a hotbed of what could be a crucial battleground state.
Data from the New York Times and Siena College, for example, show the two nearly tied, 49% to 48% in favor of Harris.
In multiple interviews with Trump supporters at the convention, most identified the economy — particularly inflation — as their biggest concern ahead of the election.
“We are not taken care of. People cannot buy food. They can’t afford gas [petrol],” said Jessenia Anderson, a voter who was at the rally wearing a red “Latinas for Trump” T-shirt. “I have a family, but I find myself making cheap money [meals]to buy cheap things.”
Others — such as rapper Sean Moon, a Tennessee voter — pointed to the US-Mexico border and concerns over immigration as a big reason to support the former president.
Immigrant crossings at the US southern border reached record levels under the Biden-Harris administration but the numbers have fallen sharply in recent months.
“That is a threat to this country,” Mr Moon, the son of a North Korean refugee, said of the migrant crossing. The Butler event, he said, was his 15th consecutive Trump rally.
“There are people who come in without being checked. They tell lies and get rewarded for it.”
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