Trump returns to Butler in front of 20,000, reflecting on the assassination attempt and honoring Comperatore

Former President Donald Trump returned to Butler County on Saturday, fulfilling a pledge and providing over 20,000 of his supporters with a spectacle of patriotism and showmanship, as well as honoring the victims of the Trump rally shooting that occurred on that same ground less than three months earlier.

Security was increased significantly compared to Trump’s July 13 visit to the Butler Farm Show complex, with more Secret Service snipers visible on nearby roofs, more barriers blocking sightlines to the stage and protective glass in front of the podium.

A gunman shot at Trump that July afternoon, grazing the former president’s right ear. Another man was killed and two others were wounded in the shooting. The gunman was shot and killed by law enforcement moments after opening fire.

Trump took the stage at 6 p.m. and spoke for nearly 90 minutes, ending his speech as the sun was setting over the rural farm show grounds.

He started out his speech exclaiming wryly, “As I was saying …” as a chart displaying illegal immigration rates was shown as the crowd cheered and laughed. It was while Trump was turning to that very chart during the July 13 rally that an assassin pulled the trigger with deadly intent.

Trump reflected on the assassination attempt and said it has only strengthened his resolve and that of his MAGA supporters. Trump said his opponents have impeached him, attempted to throw him off the ballot, and maybe tried to kill him to keep him out of power.

“Our movement to Make America Great Again stands stronger, more powerful and more united,” Trump said. “A cold-blooded assassination aimed to silence me, and the greatest movement in the country, MAGA.”

The gunman, Thomas Crooks of Bethel Park, was a registered Republican who the FBI has said had no clear political ideology.

Early in his speech, Trump asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silence for Corey Comperatore, the Buffalo Township man who was killed at the July 13 rally.

“I know he is looking down from heaven. He is with you and he is going to be with you for a long time,” Trump said. “Some people don’t die in vain, and what he has left behind is incredible. God bless you Corey.”

Chants of “Corey, Corey, Corey” followed suit. The same chant rang out several times throughout the afternoon.

Trump was joined at the rally by a cavalcade of high-profile allies, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, billionaire Elon Musk, and members of the Trump family. Before his speech, he met with the Comperatore family.

For his supporters, the rally acted as somewhat of a pilgrimage.

About 21,000 filled the Butler Farm Show grounds, according to Blair County Sheriff James E. Ott, who spoke at the rally.

There were local Pittsburghers who attended the July 13 rally and returned to Butler on Saturday. There were Trump supporters from out of state who said they needed to be there on the historic day.

Trump praised dozens of Republicans in attendance. He gave a shoutout to RNC co-chair Michael Whatley, saying his efforts to “Stop the Steal” were important in 2020, referencing the false voter fraud claims. Trump said Republicans have to “swamp the vote” this year to overwhelm any alleged voter fraud.

The rally resembled previous Trump events held in Western Pennsylvania in many ways. It featured patriotism, thousands of fans clad in MAGA gear, and a contempt for illegal immigration, transgender people, Democrats, liberals and Trump’s rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

“I say Kamala, I don’t use her last name. Who is Harris?” Trump said. “We can’t find out who she is, because if we do, our country is in big trouble.”

In neighboring Beaver County on Saturday morning, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, was campaigning on behalf of the Harris-Walz ticket. He said to a crowd of 400 in Aliquippa that all parts of Pennsylvania are important to the Democrats, and the Harris campaign will be fighting for their votes.

“Pennsylvania picks the president, and that’s why we are counting on counties just like Beaver to jam it up and deliver Harris-Walz in 2024. … This is not about the color on the map, it’s about the margins in counties all across Pennsylvania,” Fetterman said.

A sense of spectacle at Trump’s rally was turbocharged throughout the sunny afternoon. Paratroopers from the Frog-X Parachute Team descended into the grounds to start off the programming at 2 p.m. A song written by a local country artist was performed in adulation to Trump.

Rallygoers cheered as Trump’s private plane, Trump Force One, flew over the crowd about 3:30 p.m. Media presence was significantly larger Saturday compared to the July 13 rally.

Trump reminded the crowd of the importance of the race. He decried illegal immigration and claimed terrorists were pouring into the country from Yemen, Africa and other countries. He said immigration is one of the biggest reasons this year’s election is, in his estimation, the most important in American history.

“If we win Pennsylvania, we will win the whole thing. And we will fight, fight, fight,” Trump said in reference to his first comments uttered after he was struck by a bullet in Butler nearly three months ago.