Trump Will Return To Butler On Oct. 5, Same Location Of First Assassination Attempt
The Trump campaign announced on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump will hold a rally on October 5 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the same location where he faced an assassination attempt earlier this year.
“President Donald J. Trump will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, to hold a rally on the very same ground where he came within a quarter of an inch of losing his life less than three months ago,” the campaign stated in a news release.
The campaign also shared that Trump will honor firefighter Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old father who lost his life during the attempted assassination. Trump had previously promised a “big and beautiful” event in memory of Comperatore and the other victims of the attack.
“The attempted assassination rattled the presidential campaign just before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump used the event to emphasize unity. Last week, the former president was also the target of another assassination attempt while golfing at his Florida club. Secret Service agents quickly intervened, shooting at the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, who was seen hiding in the bushes near the club’s perimeter. Routh was arrested and later charged with attempted assassination along with two firearm-related offenses,” CNN reported.
Trump’s rally in Butler, located north of Pittsburgh, a crucial battleground state, will take place less than three months after the July 13 assassination attempt. According to CNN, Trump was just minutes into his speech when a gunman fired eight shots at the stage, grazing his right ear. Secret Service agents immediately neutralized the gunman on site.
Comperatore, a father of two, was shot as he shielded his family from the gunfire, said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
The October 5 rally will also recognize local law enforcement and first responders, the Trump campaign noted on Wednesday.
“President Trump will also recognize the two other Americans wounded in the shooting, David Dutch and James Copenhaver,” the release said. “He will express deep gratitude to law enforcement and first responders and thank the community for their overwhelming support following the attack.”
Trump’s reaction to the shooting—standing up, pumping his fist, and mouthing the word “Fight” to the crowd as Secret Service agents rushed him off the stage—became a defining moment at the Republican convention and throughout his campaign events.
During his speech at the Milwaukee convention, Trump paid tribute to Comperatore by approaching an exhibit featuring the fire chief’s gear and kissing his helmet.
Former First Lady Melania Trump opened up about learning of the assassination attempts against her husband.
In an interview with "Fox & Friends," Melania Trump discussed the harrowing moments surrounding the attacks. She revealed that the first attempt, which took place at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in mid-July, was something she witnessed only moments after it occurred.
“I ran to the TV and I [rewound] it and I watched it,” she said.
She added, “When you see him on the floor, and you don’t know what really happened.”
Melania referred to both attempts as “miracles.”
The second attempt occurred on September 15 while Trump was playing golf at his West Palm Beach club. Once again, Melania Trump learned about it from the news while she was in New York.
“As soon as I saw it on television, I called again, and he was OK because Secret Service were great,” she said. “The guys that they were, the team, they were fantastic. And I think both of the events, they were really miracles. If you really think about it, July 13 was a miracle. How… like that much, and he could, you know, he could not be with us.”