In Butler, Pennsylvania, a sign read “In Musk We Trust.” A Tesla Cybertruck parked on the side of the road sported a TRUMP 2024 flag.
With a month left in the presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump returned to Butler for a rally less than three months after the assassination attempt on Trump’s life that resulted in the death of a rally attendee. This time, Trump was joined by X owner Elon Musk and vice presidential candidate JD Vance.
“Welcome back to Butler, Mr. President,” a message on Trump’s video read.
As Trump began to speak, the same graphic on illegal immigration that he was referring to in the moments before the assassination attempt appeared on the screen. “And as I said,” Trump said. He had scheduled this moment to take place at exactly 6:11 p.m., which was when he was shot in the ear on July 13. He also held a “moment of silence” in honor of those who were injured or killed during the assassination. try in July. Opera singer Christopher Macchio sang the Ave Maria and people in the crowd took off their hats, wiped their eyes and some even knelt before Trump’s solemn gaze.
“For the last eight years, those who want to prevent us from achieving this future have slandered me, accused me, accused me, tried to get me out of the polls, and who knows? Maybe they’ll even try to kill me,” Trump said, raising the conspiracy theory that the assassination attempt was orchestrated by his political opponents. “12 weeks ago we all took a bullet for America.”
Trump later invited Musk on stage. The owner of X walked on wearing a black jacket over a shirt that said “Occupy Mars” and a black MAGA hat. “As you can see, I’m not just MAGA,” Musk said. “I’m dark MAGA.” Dark MAGA is a memecoin, a type of cryptocurrency inspired by online trends. He valuation Dark MAGA spiked just as Musk spoke.
Musk repeatedly implored audience members and viewers to register to vote. “This election is the most important election of our lifetime,” Musk said. “This is not just any election.”
He concluded his brief speech with an ominous message: “Get everyone you know and everyone you don’t know, get them to register to vote,” he said. “If they don’t, these will be the last elections. That’s my prediction.”
Musk’s appearance at Saturday’s rally marked an important milestone in his political evolution. Following the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Musk posted on creation of a political action committee (PAC) to support Trump’s campaign. Musk initially said he would donate $45 million per month to PACalthough he has since changed his mind. Musk also hosted Trump for a glitchy live conversation at X Spaces in August.
Musk was previously an Obama, Clinton and Biden voter who donated to politicians on both sides of the aisle, but he promoted himself as someone who generally tried to stay out of politics. in a Vanity Fair 2015 EventMusk said he hoped Trump didn’t win the Republican nomination for president because “that wouldn’t be good” and “that would be a little embarrassing.” he too he told CNBC that he did not believe Trump had the “kind of character that reflects well on America” while expressing support for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s political platform. In 2017, Musk donated large sums to Republicans, indicating a possible shift to the right in his political outlook. And in 2020, he cheated Many of his fans with a cryptic post on Twitter: “Take the red pill.”
