Grinning Donald Trump back to scene of assassination attempt in Pennsylvania as he addresses crowd from behind a screen
DONALD Trump has returned to the scene of where he was nearly assassinated in Pennsylvania.
The former US President — hoping to retake the White House next month — returned to Butler, telling adoring fans: “I’m fulfilling an obligation.”
He joked: “A very big thank you to Pennsylvania. We love Pennsylvania, and as I was saying…”
The political hopeful is in an incredibly tight race with Kamala Harris and will likely need the Keystone State’s votes to win.
Trump’s defiant return to the site where he was shot marks saw him pledge to never quit “not even in the face of death itself”.
His face was spattered with blood when a bullet grazed his ear in the shocking act of violence and killed fan Corey Comperatore.
Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service snipers moments later.
Trump said: “Exactly 12 weeks ago … on this very ground, a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me and to silence the greatest movement.
“For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper’s perch.
“But by the hand of Providence and the grace of God, that villain did not succeed in his goal. Did not come close. He did not stop our movement. He did not break out our spirit.”
Trump appeared on stage alongside running mate JD Vance and billionaire supporter Elon Musk.
This time they all spoke from behind a large glass screen surrounding the stage.
Musk jumped into the air and did a star jump while on stage and joked he was in “dark MAGA” as his hat was black.
The family of Comperatore, the rally-goer killed when 20-year-old gunman Crooks shot at Trump was also present.
A massive crowd stood shoulder to shoulder from the stage to the press stand several hundred yards away at the event billed as a “tribute to the American spirit”.
Area hotels, motels and inns were said to be full and some rallygoers arrived Friday with crowds lined up as the sun rose Saturday.
A memorial for firefighter Comperatore was set up in the bleachers, his fireman’s jacket set up on display surrounded by flowers.
There was a very visible heightened security presence, with armed law enforcers in camouflage uniforms on roofs.
Trump’s plane did flybys over the venue before his arrival, drawing cheers from those gathered on the field below.
The man who allegedly staked out Trump on his golf course in Florida has been charged with attempting to assassinate him.
Suspect Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was denied bail at a court hearing on Monday – hours after prosecutors cited a letter offering $150,000 to “finish the job” as evidence of why he should be kept locked up pending trial.
Routh had been initially charged with two federal firearms offences but the upgraded charges reflect the Justice Department’s assessment that he plotted to kill Trump.
They claim this is through Routh aiming a rifle through the shrubbery surrounding Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on an afternoon the ex-president was playing on it.
In an interview with Dr. Phil, Trump placed some blame on President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, for the assassination attempt on his life.
Trump said he believes Biden did not “care about his health and safety,” despite the president reaching out and speaking to him moments after the July 13 incident.
The Republican presidential candidate described his relationship with Biden as having “a lot of hatred.”
When questioned by Dr. Phil on if he thought Biden and Harris cared if he was hurt, Trump responded, “I don’t know.”
“He always made it very tough for us to have the proper number of Secret Service people,” he said of President Biden.
“I have these massive rallies with 50-60,000 people or more… and our people were always fighting to get more security, more Secret Service, and [Biden] knew that we didn’t have enough.”
Donald Trump's Full Statement Post-Rally Shooting in July
Former president Donald Trump provided an update on Truth Social after the shooting that took place at his Pennsylvania rally on July 13.
“I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.
“It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country.
“Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.
“Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”