JUST IN: Trump Makes Triumphant Return To Butler, PA: 'As I Was Saying'
Former President Donald Trump received a hero’s welcome when he returned to Butler, Pennsylvania just over two months after he was nearly killed by an assassin during a July 13 rally in the Western Pennsylvania town.
Trump took the stage to a live rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA,” the former president’s signature entrance music. The former president took his time to wave to supporters as he slowly made his way to the podium.
He then embraced Greenwood and shook his hand as he finished up the song. Trump was ultimately welcomed to the stage with roaring chants of “USA” from the 50,000-strong crowd.
After thanking Greenwood, the crowd and the state of Pennsylvania, Trump began his speech with, “as I was saying.”
The campaign then displayed the infamous immigration chart, which Trump miraculously turned to look at just as the gunman opened fire. The last-second turn caused the bullet to miss the former president’s head by a matter of inches.
“Exactly 12 weeks ago this evening on this very ground a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me and to silence the greatest movement in the history of our country. But by the hand of providence and the grace of God, that villain did not succeed in his goal,” Trump told the crowd.
Hours before former President Trump took the stage, thousands of the former president’s most loyal supporters descended on the small Pennsylvania community for the historic rally. Supporters wore shirts depicting Trump’s infamous reaction to the assassination attempt — when he turned to the crowd and raised his fist in defiance — complete with the word “fight, fight, fight.”
Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec — who guest-hosted Bannon’s War Room during the event — noted that security was noticeably tight. The Secret Service continues to reorganize after the Butler event was plagued by communications failures, uncovered rooftops, and a delayed evacuation time, among several other issues. Several senior Secret Service officials, including former director Kim Cheatle, have resigned in the weeks following the shooting.
This time around, the Secret Service left no point unguarded around the event perimeter, while counter-snipers could be seen on the rooftop from which the gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire.
Counter Snipers in Butler
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 5, 2024
Ahead of the rally — which took place at the Butler fairgrounds — the Trump Campaign paid tribute to retired firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed when Crooks opened fire from an uncovered rooftop. Comperatore died while shielding his daughter from gunfire.
At the initial rally grounds, comparator’s fire gear was displayed in the bleachers he was sitting in at the time of his murder. Comperatore’s wife, Helen, as well as his two daughters, Allyson and Kaylee, were also in attendance for the rally.
Trump met with the Comperatore family in a touching moment immediately after touching down in Pennsylvania.