Donald Trump recalled the “heartbreaking 16 seconds” in which a gunman fired a hail of bullets at him as he defiantly returned to the scene.
Addressing a wreath in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former president told a large crowd: Thank you so much to Pennsylvania, we love Pennsylvania. And, as I said…’
Amid deafening cheers, he pointed to a large screen displaying an immigration graphic, the same one he was showing when he was shot.
Trump said: “On this very turf, a cold-blooded killer sought to silence me and the largest movement, MAGA, in the history of our country.” MAGA, we love MAGA.
‘For 16 agonizing seconds, gunshot timing stood still as this cruel monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper position not far away.
‘But by the hand of Providence and the grace of God that villain did not achieve his objective, nor did he come close to stopping our movement. “It did not shake our unwavering determination to save America.”
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump finishes his remarks at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, United States, on October 5, 2024.
Former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listens as Christopher Macchio, not pictured, sings at the end of a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump gestures during a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt on him in Butler, Pennsylvania, the United States, on October 5, 2024.
Looking out at tens of thousands of supporters, Trump said, “This is a big crowd.” First of all I want to thank the men and women of the Secret Service who dumped their bodies on top of me.’
He added: ‘I return to Butler after tragedy and pain to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and America.
“Our movement to Make America Great Again remains stronger, prouder, more united and determined, and closer to victory than ever before.”
He added: “I will never give up, I will never bend, I will never break, I will never give in, not even in the face of death itself.”
“We have fought together, we have endured together, we have moved forward together and right here in Pennsylvania we have bled together.”
A police sniper positions himself on a rooftop before a rally by Republican presidential candidate, former United States President Donald Trump, at Butler Farm Show Inc. on October 5, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Supporters arrive before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Dan Beasley of Northville, Michigan, holds a cross as Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show.
Behind him in the stands was the firefighter uniform of Corey Comperatore, a supporter who died in the July 13 attack.
After calling for a moment of silence, the bells rang and Trump called on opera singer Christopher Macchio to sing ‘Ave Maria.’
The former president stopped the rally after a woman fainted and the crowd chanted “We love Trump!” and sang the National Anthem for about four minutes while they treated her.
A statue of former President Donald Trump with his fist raised waves to supporters before Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024.
Secret Service snipers survey from an elevated position before former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024.
ATs for sale outside the Butler Farm Show where Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump spoke
Trump then ridiculed Vice President Kamala Harris after her teleprompter had technical problems during a recent rally.
“The teleprompter went off and so did she,” he said as the crowd laughed. “I don’t use teleprompters much,” Trump said.
He also criticized Harris for ignoring storm victims while she was “wined and dined in San Francisco” at campaign fundraisers.
“If I thought they were doing even a modestly decent job, I wouldn’t have run,” Trump said.
He went through a list of attacks on Harris, particularly her and Biden’s failure to secure the border.
“It lost more than 325,000 migrant children who, whether dead, missing or in slavery, never saw their parents again,” he said.
“Kamala Harris is a radical left Marxist, she was laughed at in Congress, no one thought she could win,” he said.
A memorial to firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed during an assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump, on display before a campaign rally with President Trump at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania.
On July 13, Trump’s ear took a hit when gunman Thomas Crooks unleashed a hail of bullets from a nearby rooftop following a series of catastrophic failures by the Secret Service.
This time, the Secret Service erected a steel ring around the Butler Farm Show grounds, including snipers on the roof of the glass company warehouse from which Crooks shot.
There were also cargo containers to block lines of sight, police on horseback, and drones flying overhead.
Many of the tens of thousands of supporters, including families, were there on July 13 and returned.
JD Vance, his running mate, told the crowd: ‘A killer tried to fill our hearts with terror. We are here to say that we cannot be intimidated, we cannot be stopped, we will not be denied.
Members of the Frog
An attendee waits in line before a rally for Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, at Butler Farm Show Inc. on October 5, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.
‘Many of you were here and it is a testament to your courage and your patriotism that you are here again today.
“Now you heard the shots, you saw the blood. We all feared the worst. But you knew everything would be okay when President Trump pumped his fist in the air and yelled “Fight! Fight! Fight!”;
The crowd chanted
‘How dare you talk about Donald Trump being a threat to democracy? Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What the hell have you done?
