Former U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, holding a rally at the same location where an assassination attempt was made against him three months ago.
Addressing a large crowd, Trump opened the rally by referencing the July 13 incident when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks allegedly tried to kill him. “As I was saying…” Trump quipped, before reflecting on how “time stood still” during the attack.
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X, joined Trump on stage, endorsing the former president for re-election. Musk, who publicly backed Trump after the assassination attempt, praised Trump’s leadership, saying, “The true test of character is how one behaves under fire.”
Musk, wearing an “Occupy Mars” shirt and a “Make America Great Again” hat, rallied the crowd by calling for them to “fight” and ensure they are registered to vote in the 2024 election. He added, "President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution and democracy in America."
Trump, meanwhile, reiterated his familiar campaign themes of crime, immigration, and protecting free speech, accusing Democrats of wanting to "take away your rights." He also commended Musk for his work in "saving free speech" with X, the social media platform Musk owns.
