More than two and a half months after the assassination attempt on his life, former President Donald Trump will return to Butler, Pennsylvania, this evening to finish a campaign rally that was cut short by the July 13 attack.
The Republican nominee—last seen on the same stage being escorted by Secret Service agents, blood dripping from his right ear—will be joined by a host of special guests and a projected large crowd.
Trump’s campaign called his return to the site a “tribute to the American spirit,” writing in a press release that “In America, we do not let monsters like that evil assassin have the last word. Every time our nation is struck by attack or hardship, we rally, we persevere, and we prevail.”
Here’s what we know about the second Butler, Pennsylvania rally today:
When and Where to Watch
The rally will be held at the Butler Farm Show—the same venue where, on July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight rounds, injuring Trump’s ear, wounding two attendees, and killing one person, Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief.
The venue’s doors will open at 10 a.m. ET and the rally will begin at 5 p.m. ET.
The rally will be live-streamed on C-SPAN.
Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are locked in a tight race for Pennsylvania’s 19 Electoral College votes. Aggregate polls from FiveThirtyEight and The New York Times show a near-deadlocked race in the state, with Harris leading by 0.6 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Who Will Be There
Trump’s campaign has announced a lengthy list of prominent attendees, including the wife and daughters of Comperatore, Helen, Allyson, Kaylee, and his sisters Kelly Meeder and Dawn Comperatore-Schaffer. Helen Comperatore told the New York Post that Corey had shouted for people to “get down” after the shots were fired and used his body to shield his family from bullets.
Trump said he would honor Corey Comperatore’s memory, recognize the injured attendees, and thank law enforcement during his second Butler visit.
The former president’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, his son, Eric Trump, and his wife, Lara Trump, who is the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will also be in attendance.
Late Thursday, tech billionaire Elon Musk replied to Trump’s social media post about his Butler, Pennsylvania rally, writing, “I will be there to support!” The Trump campaign later released the guest list with Musk’s name on it.
Elon Musk’s Growing Support of Trump
Within half an hour of the assassination attempt on Trump’s life—which was live-streamed—Elon Musk posted an endorsement of Trump on his social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote at 6:45 p.m. ET on July 13, along with a video of Trump fist-pumping on stage while surrounded by Secret Service agents and bleeding from his ear.
REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images
Musk’s attendance at the second Butler, Pennsylvania, rally comes amid an increase in his political commentary and criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, and the current administration. In a series of recent posts on X, Musk voiced concerns about government policies on a wide range of issues and their impact on the country’s future.
On Wednesday, Musk posted, “Trump/Vance MUST win. I can’t handle 4 years of seeing and hearing Kamala/Walz. That would be cruel and unusual punishment!” In response to a comment on his post, he added, “The survival of the Constitution is indeed at risk.”
On October 3, he took aim at Harris’ political record, writing on X, “Kamala’s voting track record when she was in the Senate was to the left of Bernie Sanders! She was rated most far left of all 100 senators. Not a moderate at all.”
Other posts revolved around voter registration, writing that Democrats “are literally using YOUR tax dollars to import voters and disenfranchise you!” writing in another post that “Citizens of Arizona, this election is your last chance before you’re disenfranchised.”
On Friday, he called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, saying “weak government leadership costs lives” in reference to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to Hurricane Helene and its limited funds. In another post about disaster relief, he wrote, “The level of belligerent government incompetence is staggering!!”
He also posted, “Unless Trump wins and we get rid of the mountain of smothering regulations (that have nothing to do with safety!), humanity will never reach Mars. This is existential.”
Security Protocol
The Secret Service has been under intense scrutiny since the July 13 assassination attempt. Last week, a bipartisan Senate report found five key failures on the agency’s part:
- Failed to clearly define responsibilities for planning and security at the July 13 rally.
- Failed to ensure the AGR Building from which Crooks shot was effectively covered.
- Failed to effectively coordinate with state and local law enforcement.
- Failed to provide resources for the July 13 rally that could have enhanced security.
- Failed to communicate information about the suspicious person to key personnel and to take action to ensure the safety of former President Trump.
U.S. Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a Friday statement to Newsweek, “Since the attempted assassination of former President Trump on July 13, the U.S. Secret Service has made comprehensive changes and enhancements to our communications capabilities, resourcing, and protective operations.”
He reiterated, “Today, the former President is receiving heightened protection and we take the responsibility to ensure his safety and security very seriously.”
The statement continued: “Regarding the October 5 event in Butler, we are coordinating closely with the Pennsylvania State Police as well as local law enforcement in and around Butler Township.” Typically, the Secret Service coordinates with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies at campaign events.
“We are also leveraging other federal security resources to expand personnel and technology. To maintain the integrity of our protective operations, we cannot go into specifics regarding the security enhancements,” he said.
The statement advised locals to prepare for traffic disruptions.
“Residents in the area should expect traffic delays and an increased presence of state, local, and federal law enforcement as part of our efforts. Specific road closure information will be released by the Pennsylvania State Police,” it said.