Trump, who once pledged at the Republican National Convention that he would speak only once about the events of that day, has since woven it into nearly every speech, framing it with religious symbolism and a narrative of martyrdom.
Aside from the same large American flag hoisted by cranes, Trump’s return to Butler came with different circumstances and on-the-ground logistics compared to the rally 12 weeks prior.
His opponent has changed. Saturday’s crowd was several times larger. The roof from which the would-be assassin fired shots in July was no longer visible, hidden behind white tractor-trailers. And this time, Trump stood behind protective glass. Back in the summer, when he first visited Butler, Trump was leading in every national and swing state poll. In the immediate aftermath of that summer rally, Republicans were confident he was headed for a landslide victory.
Now, as autumn unfolds, the race is statistically tied across the board and if anyone has momentum now, it’s Vice President Kamala Harris. Since entering the race eight days after the first Butler rally, she not only erased Trump’s lead but did so by cutting into his advantage on key issues like the economy and immigration.
With Pennsylvania’s electoral votes crucial to winning the presidency, the Trump campaign pulled out all the stops to create a grand spectacle at a county fairgrounds in the state’s northwest.
When Trump’s campaign made the official announcement they would return to Butler, Pam Atrip, 71, knew she had to come see Trump for the first time. She and her sister-in-law began driving from Huntington, W.V., before day break.
”There was no way I was going to miss this,” said Artip, who noted that her son said it wasn’t a good idea given the violence last time. “I said, ‘hunny, I am not asking for permission.’”
Among the estimated 21,000 attendees were three Trumps, two US senators, seven US House representatives, 12 Pennsylvania county sheriffs, vice presidential running mate JD Vance, billionaire Elon Musk, and musician Lee Greenwood.
In addition to Greenwood’s performance, the event featured a live artist painting a tribute to one of the victims of the July attack, a parachute team landing near the stage, and two flyovers by Trump’s plane.
All of this contributed to a largely festival-like atmosphere as the crowd waited several hours for Trump’s return. At one point the crowd broke out in “the wave.” In long lines for hot dogs and funnel cakes, conversations sprung up among those who said they were at the July rally. But most who showed up wanted to be entertained on a beautiful Saturday and to say they were there, just like any of the other Trump campaign rallies.
That said, as the speaking program began there was a tension in the rhetoric. Between calls for national unity, there was, at the same time, an effort to place blame on Democrats and the media for the attempts on Trump’s life.
“Even after that terrible assassination attempt that took one man’s life and nearly took many others, they continue to use dangerous inflammatory rhetoric,” said Vance about Democrats.
Trump also warned the crowd that, “We have an enemy from within which I think is much more dangerous than from the outside.”
As the Trump rally was underway in Butler, Harris was in western North Carolina, meeting with Governor Roy Cooper and other officials to hear about relief efforts underway in an area devastated by Hurricane Helene.
Harris gave a briefing to local officials on recovery efforts, including adding a new county to get disaster relief aid, she thanked members of the National Guard working in the area, and joined volunteers in making bags of supplies for those impacted by significant flooding.
“I think that these moments of crisis bring out some of the best of who we could be and who we are,” said Harris.
The former president held a town hall in Fayetteville, N.C. on Friday evening.
Western Pennsylvania has become a focal point for both campaigns as Election Day approaches. Harris held her first campaign event as a presidential candidate here, used the region for debate prep, and next week, former President Obama will hold his first rally in the area. Two concerts were even held this weekend to boost voter registration efforts.
While Harris has focused on driving turnout in Pittsburgh, Trump has zeroed in on driving up turnout in Trump friendly rural areas, like Butler County which gave Trump 66 percent of the vote in 2016 and 2020. Trump also held a rally in Erie last week.
Trump hopes that returning to Butler—just an hour north of Pittsburgh—will recapture the sympathy and political energy surrounding the assassination attempt where a bullet grazed his right ear. After the shots rang out, Secret Service agents shielded Trump, who later stood, raised his fist, and urged the crowd to “Fight, fight, fight” while blood streamed down his face. The moment was likened by his campaign manager to the iconic Iwo Jima image, which now appeared on t-shirts, jackets, a custom-made dress, and even a monster truck parked outside Saturday’s rally. (This, in addition to the image being put on high-top shoes sold online for $299 by one of Trump’s companies, according to the New York Times.)
Shane Caldwell, 38, from Leechburg, Pa., said returning to Butler was a cathartic experience for him after sitting in the same bleachers where Comperatore had been fatally wounded in July.
Caldwell, along with a few hundred others, spent most of the previous night camped out along the road, hoping to secure prime seating. Caldwell, his wife, and 15 friends arrived at 3 a.m. in what he described as a festival-like atmosphere.
When the gates opened at 7 a.m., thousands were already in line. Caldwell and his group secured seats on the right side of the stage, where two people had been shot during the July rally.
Though he was on the opposite side of the stage during that event, Caldwell said that returning to the site was emotionally significant.
“It feels great, honestly. I’m here to support Trump,” said Caldwell, who works in garage door installation and repair.
James Pindell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @jamespindell and on Instagram @jameswpindell.
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