Watch: Trump rallies with Elon Musk at site of assassination attempt

Trump Rallies in Pennsylvania After Assassination Attempt, Joined by Elon Musk on Stage

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, to rally his supporters at the very site where an assassination attempt left him injured in July. A gunman’s bullet grazed Trump’s ear during that attack, upending his campaign and drawing national attention. On Saturday, Trump used the venue as a backdrop to deliver a resounding message to his followers.

“I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and to the people of America,” Trump told the crowd. “Our movement is nearer to victory than ever before.”
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The event became a high-profile moment not only for Trump but also for billionaire Elon Musk, who joined the former president on stage for the first time during the campaign. Trump introduced Musk as “a truly incredible guy,” to loud applause.

In his remarks, Musk emphasized the significance of the upcoming election, calling it “the most important election of our lifetime.” He went on to endorse Trump, stating, “President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America.”

With just a month to go before Election Day, Trump’s appearance in the key battleground state was part of a broader effort to solidify support. He faces a tight race against Vice President Kamala Harris, with polls showing a dead heat between the two candidates. According to a recent Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll, Harris has made gains in several swing states, threatening Trump’s previously solid lead.

“If we win Pennsylvania, we will win the whole thing,” Trump declared to the enthusiastic crowd, underscoring the state’s importance in the November 5 election.

For many in attendance, the rally was more than just a political event—it was a moment of reflection on the events of July, when the assassination attempt left one attendee dead and two others wounded. Brady Marnell, a 59-year-old Trump supporter from San Diego, described the event as “bittersweet,” explaining, “I feel like it’s an important thing to finish. This one is more about reflection and looking back to the events of July.”

The rally also drew a number of Trump’s prominent supporters, including hedge-fund billionaire John Paulson, who spoke briefly before Trump took the stage. Paulson, a major Trump donor and rumored candidate for Treasury Secretary in a future Trump administration, predicted economic prosperity under Trump’s leadership. “When he is elected president, he will deliver the greatest economic boom to America that we’ve ever seen,” Paulson told the crowd.

Elon Musk’s appearance marked his most visible involvement in the 2024 campaign to date. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and the world’s richest man, had maintained a relatively low political profile in previous election cycles, but he has since emerged as a key Trump ally. Musk’s endorsement of Trump came shortly after the July assassination attempt, when he launched a pro-Trump super PAC and publicly threw his support behind the Republican candidate.

Musk has become a frequent talking point in Trump’s recent speeches, with the former president praising Musk’s contributions to disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Specifically, Trump highlighted the deployment of SpaceX’s Starlink equipment to help restore communications in U.S. towns affected by the hurricane. At the same time, Trump took the opportunity to criticize the Biden administration’s response to the disaster, making unfounded claims that relief funds had been diverted to support undocumented immigrants.

Musk’s support for Trump has been particularly evident on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which Musk purchased for $44 billion in 2022. As the site’s owner and its most-followed account, Musk has shifted X’s political tone toward the right. His approach to free speech on the platform has sparked controversy, with critics accusing him of allowing disinformation to spread unchecked. This has included amplifying Trump’s recent, unsubstantiated claims that migrants in an Ohio town were responsible for a crime wave and the disappearance of pets.

During the rally, security was noticeably heightened, with Trump delivering his speech from behind protective glass, a precautionary measure in light of the July 13 attack. Security drones patrolled the area, and a sniper was visible behind Trump, underscoring the gravity of the threats faced by the former president.

For Musk, the rally signified his most direct foray into politics yet. In addition to his public endorsements and campaign involvement, he has even hinted at a potential role in a second Trump administration. During a conversation with Trump on X in August, Musk floated the idea of taking on an official position should Trump win. Trump responded positively, teasing the possibility of offering Musk a cabinet position.

As Trump continues his march toward the 2024 election, his alliance with Musk—along with the presence of high-profile supporters like Paulson—seems to solidify his standing among the Republican Party’s elite. The Pennsylvania rally, coming after the harrowing events of July, served as both a triumphant return for Trump and a moment of reflection for his followers.

With Election Day fast approaching and the race tightening, both Trump and Harris are pulling out all the stops to secure the presidency. But as Trump told the crowd in Butler, Pennsylvania may very well hold the key to victory. “If we win Pennsylvania, we will win the whole thing,” he repeated, leaving little doubt about the state’s significance in the final stretch of the campaign.