Donald Trump recalls the ‘horrific 16 seconds’ when a gunman unleashed a bullet on him as he returned to the scene.
Addressing the crown in Butler, Pennsylvania, the former president told a huge crowd: A thank you very much for Pennsylvania, we love Pennsylvania. And, as I said…’
Amid cheers, he then pointed to a large screen showing an immigration chart, the same one shown at the time of the shooting.
Trump said: ‘On this ground, cold-blooded killers aim to silence me and silence the greatest movement – MAGA – in the history of our country. MAGA, we love MAGA.
‘For an exhilarating 16 seconds during which time the gunfire stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from a sniper’s perch not too far away.
‘But by the hand of Providence and the grace of God the villain who did not succeed in the goal, did not come to stop our movement. They do not interfere with our determination to save America.’
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump finishes his speech at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA, 05 October 2024
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump listens as Christopher Macchio, not pictured, sings at the conclusion of a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024
Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump during a rally at the site of the July assassination attempt on him, in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA, October 5, 2024
Looking at tens of thousands of Trump supporters he said: ‘This is a crowd. First, I want to thank the men and women of the Secret Service who threw themselves above me.’
He added: ‘I returned to Butler after tragedy and heartbreak to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and America.
‘Our movement to make America great again stander strong, proud, more united and determined and closer to victory than ever.’
He added: ‘I will not stop, I will not bend, I will not break, I will not give up, even in my own death.
‘We’ve fought together, we’ve endured together, we’ve pushed forward together, and right here in Pennsylvania we’ve bled together.’
Law enforcement snipers stand on the roof before a rally by Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump, at the Butler Farm Show Inc. on October 05, 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, Pa.
Dan Beasley of Northville, Mich., holds a cross before Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show
Behind him on the bleachers is the uniform of firefighter Corey Comperatore, a supporter who was killed in the July 13 attack.
After a moment of silence, the bell rang, and Trump called on opera singer Christopher Macchio to sing ‘Ave Maria’.
The former president paused a rally after a woman fainted and the crowd chanted ‘We love Trump!’ and sang the National Anthem for about four minutes while he attended.
A statue of former President Donald Trump with a raised fist greets supporters before Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Oct. 5, 2024
A Secret Service counter-sniper survey from a higher-up position before former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on Oct. 5, 2024
ats at the sale outside the Butler Farm Show where Republican presidential nominee and former US president Donald Trump spoke
Trump then mocked Vice President Kamala Harris after her teleprompter had technical problems during a rally.
“The teleprompter is off, so is he,” he said as the crowd laughed. “I don’t use the teleprompter very much,” Trump said.
He also criticized Harris for ignoring hurricane victims while he was ‘staying and eating in San Francisco,’ at a campaign fundraiser.
“If I thought he was doing a decent enough job, I wouldn’t be running,” Trump said.
He launched a laundry list of attacks against Harris, particularly his and Biden’s failure to secure the border.
“They lost more than 325,000 migrant children who died, or disappeared or were enslaved, never to see 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 died during an assassination attempt on Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump, is on display before a campaign rally with President Trump at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania
On July 13, Trump’s ear was caught when gunman Thomas Crooks unleashed a bullet from a nearby rooftop after a series of catastrophic failures by the Secret Service.
This time the Secret Service set up a ring of steel around the Butler Farm Show grounds, including a sniper on the roof of the glass company Warehouse Crooks was taken from.
There are also cargo containers to block the line of sight, police on horseback, and drones hovering overhead.
Many of the tens of thousands of supporters, including families, had been there on July 13 and returned.
JD Vance, a running mate, told the crowd: ‘A killer is trying to fill our hearts with fear. We are here to say that we cannot be feared, we cannot be stopped, we will not be denied.
Members of the Frog X parachute team descend on former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign rally at the site of the first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5, 2024
Participants wait in line before a rally by Republican presidential candidate, former US President Donald Trump, at the Butler Farm Show Inc. on October 05, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania
‘Many of you are here and it is a testament to your bravery and patriotism that you are here again today.
‘Now, you hear the shots, you see the blood. We all fear the worst. But you know everything is going to be OK when President Trump raises his fists high in the air and shouts “Fight! Fight! Fight!”;
The crowd chanted
‘How do you talk about Donald Trump as a threat to democracy? Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What have you done?
