Donald Trump returned to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was nearly assassinated in July, urging a large crowd to deliver an Election Day victory that he tied to his survival of the shooting. The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman’s bullet struck his ear. Trump began his speech by saying “As I was saying,” and gestured towards an immigration chart he was looking at when the gunfire began.
Trump stated that “twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America” and asked the crowd to go out and vote, emphasizing the importance of winning the election. He also emphasized that the event was a testament to American resilience, saying “we have bled together” and “we have endured together.” Trump’s campaign worked to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential, with just 30 days to go until the election.
The event featured several notable appearances, including a performance by musician Lee Greenwood, who sang “God Bless the USA,” and a speech by billionaire Elon Musk, who spoke at a Trump rally for the first time. Trump honored firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died shielding family members from gunfire in July, and recognized the two other injured rallygoers, David Dutch and James Copenhaver.
Donald Trump (Image via Getty)
The event also featured a moment of silence to honor Comperatore and a performance by classical singer Christopher Macchio, who sang “Ave Maria” after a bell rang at the same time that gunfire began on July 13. Several of Comperatore’s family members were in attendance, including his widow, Helen, who stood next to Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
Trump called the would-be assassin “a vicious monster” and said he did not succeed “by the hand of providence and the grace of God.” There was a visible heightened security presence at the event, with armed law enforcement officers in camouflage uniforms on the roofs and behind protective glass that now encases the stage at Trump’s outdoor rallies.
Despite the heightened security, the event remains shrouded in mystery, with many questions unanswered about the worst Secret Service security failure in decades. These questions include how the shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, managed to outmaneuver law enforcement and how he was able to scramble on top of a building within easy shooting distance of the ex-president. Another question remains unanswered is his motive for the shooting.
