Former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024.
Evan Vucci | AP
Former President Donald Trump is expected to hold a rally on Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, where his July 13 rally erupted into chaos after a gunman opened fire in an attempt to kill the Republican presidential nominee, killing one member.
Trump first announced his plan to return to Butler in July, 13 days after the rally shooting.
With the Nov. 5 election nearly four weeks away and early voting still underway, the Trump campaign has been working to build up hype for Butler’s event. It could be one of Trump’s last high-profile opportunities to make his case to the American public, in a crucially volatile situation.
“BUTLER ON SATURDAY – HISTORY!” Trump tweeted on Truth Social on Thursday.
But Trump is returning to Butler in a very different presidential race.
Before Butler’s first trip, Trump was still reeling from President Joe Biden’s poor performance in their June 27 debate, which led to growing doubts among Democrats about the candidate’s ability to win a second term.
Since then, Biden has dropped out of the race, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken over the Democratic ticket and has begun to erode Trump’s edge.
Butler’s second meeting with Trump will also highlight his new team.
Tesla CEO and Trump’s new partner Elon Musk announced on Saturday that he will speak at the meeting. Musk formally endorsed Trump hours after the Butler assassination attempt, marking a critical pivot in their previously hostile relationship.
Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, of Ohio, will also deliver the keynote address.
Family members of Corey Comperatore, a mob member who was shot and killed at the July rally, are also expected to join, according to the campaign.
Going into Saturday’s rally, the Secret Service said it had beefed up its security plan.
This incident of shooting Butler made the Secret Service closely watched as there were questions about how the gunman could get to the place where the former president was shot at a public event. That anger grew even more after Trump was the target of another assassination attempt in September.
On Friday, the Secret Service pledged to make “extensive changes and improvements” to its communications capabilities.
“The former President receives a high level of security and we take the responsibility of ensuring his safety and security very seriously,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.