BUTLER, Pa. ā Thousands of supporters returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday to rally around Donald Trump at the same site where a gunman tried to assassinate him in July.
Many had lined up as the sun rose for the event billed as a ātribute to the American spirit." The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunmanās bullet struck his ear, beginning his speech with, āAs I was saying,ā and gesturing toward an immigration chart he was looking at when the gunfire began.
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There were numerous references and tributes to Corey Comperatore, who died at the July rally as he shielded family members from gunfire. His firemanās jacket was set up on display surrounded by flowers, an artist created a patriotic rendering of the former fire chief live on stage, and Comperatore's sisters wiped away tears as their brother was honored from the stage.
Trump asked for a moment of silence to honor Comperatore, and classical singer Christopher Macchio sang āAve Mariaā after a bell rung at the same time gunfire began on July 13.
Billionaire tech executive Elon Musk also spoke for the first time at a Trump rally, jumping and pumping his fists into the air as he took the podium.
A visibly heightened security presence surrounded the site, with men in camouflage uniforms stationed on roofs with large guns. The building from which shots were fired in July was completely obscured by tractor-trailers, a large grassy perimeter and a fence, featuring Trumpās image from the previous rally.