Donald Trump is set to make a defiant return to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the location of a failed assassination attempt during a rally attended by thousands of his supporters. The former president will be joined by J.D. Vance, his running mate for the upcoming November election, along with family members of those injured in the July 13 attack, first responders, and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Trump has expressed his desire to revisit the site where a gunman opened fire, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to two others before being shot dead by law enforcement. “Butler has become quite a famous place—it’s like a monument now,” he remarked at a recent rally in Milwaukee.
His campaign has suggested that “he took a bullet for democracy” in Butler, and Trump is expected to speak behind protective glass during the event.
The incident unfolded just six minutes into Trump’s campaign speech, amid sweltering heat, when eight shots rang out. Trump instinctively ducked behind his podium and winced, later raising his fist and shouting “fight, fight, fight” to the crowd, a moment that has become iconic in his campaign.
“I first asked, ‘How many people are dead?’ because we had a massive crowd,” Trump recounted. However, his initial words captured by a stage microphone were, “let me get my shoes,” as confirmed by witness Erin Autenreith, who was seated in the front row.
The assassination attempt sent shockwaves through the political landscape, prompting messages of support from President Joe Biden and world leaders. The event triggered calls across the political spectrum for a reduction in campaign hostilities, though these pleas were short-lived, with tensions quickly resurfacing.
Despite being grazed by a bullet fired from an AR-15 rifle by the shooter, Thomas Crooks, Trump emerged largely unharmed. The Secret Service faced criticism for their failure to secure the area from which the shots were fired, located just a few hundred feet from the stage.
This attempt on Trump’s life marked the beginning of a tumultuous period in the White House race, highlighted by Biden’s unexpected withdrawal and the subsequent nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate.
On September 15, law enforcement apprehended a man wielding a rifle and a GoPro camera at Trump’s Florida golf course, marking a second assassination attempt according to the FBI.
Some of Trump’s supporters have espoused various conspiracy theories, claiming that the rhetoric from Democrats regarding Trump as a threat to democracy has incited violence. Merchandise sellers at his rallies have capitalised on the situation, creating T-shirts and collectibles commemorating his narrow escape.
The gunfire in Butler claimed the life of Corey Comperatore, a fire chief who authorities say died while protecting family members. Two other attendees were also injured during the shooting.