Former President Donald Trump is set to return to the scene of his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania with several special guests for a Saturday campaign rally.
Trump’s special guests list consists of 60 people, including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk; the family of Corey Comperatore, who was shot dead at the GOP nominee’s first Butler rally on July 13; and multiple rally-goers who witnessed the shooting that left Trump with a wounded ear.
I will be there to support! https://t.co/nokR0g3dn1
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2024
Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Trump’s running mate, will be at the rally. The former president’s family members, including his son Eric Trump and Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair Lara Trump will also be there when Trump takes the stage at 5 p.m.
Other notable guests include David Dutch, who was injured by gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks at the first Butler rally; Pennsylvania county sheriffs; Butler County leadership; first responders; Republican National Committee Chairman (RNC) Michael Whatley; and Dave McCormick, a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania’s Senate seat.
The following members of Congress are named as special guests: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmidt; Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson; Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser; Pennsylvania Rep. Guy Reschenthaler; Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly; and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz.
American musician Lee Greenwood and artist Scott Lobaido will also be there to watch Trump finish the rally he started nearly three months ago.
Video posted early Saturday shows thousands of enthusiastic supporters standing in line waiting to attend Trump’s rally.
🔴Look at that CROWD! THOUSANDS LINE UP FOR TRUMP RALLY IN BUTLER, PA 🎥https://t.co/bb8kfnmIlc pic.twitter.com/iZHea9NCI4
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) October 5, 2024
Rene White, a rally-goer named on Saturday’s special guest list, told the Daily Caller in July that she was sitting behind Trump when he was struck by a bullet.
“I was watching the Jumbotron to the right. Heard the first shot and kind of followed it back towards Trump, that sound of it, anyways. And then the next two shots came, and I watched President Trump grab his ear. I watched him go down to the ground. I watched the Secret Service pile on top of him. And I see the guys up there with the rifles, sharpshooters, and the camouflage, and the black. And they were walking around the stage. And that’s when it started to be, like, more real,” White told the Caller at Trump’s Charlotte rally, held 11 days after the attempt on Trump’s life.
On live television, 20-year-old Crooks took aim at Trump from “an elevated position” on top of a building approximately 400 feet away from the stage. The U.S. Secret Service neutralized Crooks immediately after the former president was shot.
Trump stood up and shouted “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as blood dripped from his head before Secret Service escorted him away from the scene. (RELATED: ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’: Crowd Erupts As Bandaged Trump Makes First RNC Appearance)
Trump returns to Butler, Pennsylvania for a rally today at 5 p.m.
Special guests include the family of Corey Comperatore, rally-goers who witnessed the first assassination attempt, and Elon Musk, among others. https://t.co/UPiKI392sc
— Julianna Frieman (@JuliannaFrieman) October 5, 2024
“The doctor at the hospital said he never saw anything like this, he called it a miracle,” Trump told the New York Post in an interview published the day after his near-death experience.
“I’m not supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be dead,” Trump told the outlet.
Former U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberley Cheatle, who was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, resigned 10 days after Trump was shot under her leadership.
A second assassination attempt occurred on Sept. 15 when Ryan Routh pointed his rifle at Trump, who was golfing, through the fence while hiding in a bush at the GOP nominee’s West Palm Beach, Florida golf club.
Routh, who was indicted for attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer and several gun charges, pleaded not guilty on all five counts, CBS News reported.
To protect Trump as he returns to Butler, Secret Service agents will be stationed inside and outside of the secure perimeter, according to CBS News. Planning for the event began two weeks ago, multiple law enforcement officers said.
“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,” U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. “We are also leveraging other federal security resources to expand personnel and technology.”
Secret Service is lining the rally site with parked farm vehicles, stage enhancements and bulletproof glass to address line-of-sight vulnerabilities posed by tall buildings, according to the outlet.
Additional security measures include magnetometers, counter sniper teams, enhanced counter drone technology and counter assault teams, the outlet reported. Pennsylvania State Police officers and tactical team members will work alongside Secret Service teams at the event.