With the phrase “as I was saying,” Donald Trump symbolically resumed the speech he left unfinished on July 13th due to the attack he suffered.
This time, in rural Butler County, Pennsylvania, the event took place under strict security measures and with bulletproof glass protecting the former president.
The building from which Trump was shot in July was heavily guarded, with several trailers surrounding the rally staffed with special agents watching every move.
Trump’s plane flew over the venue where thousands of attendees were gathered while the soundtrack of the film ‘ Top Gun ‘ was played on the ground and three parachutists with American flags landed near the stage, while the attendees mostly wore red t-shirts and messages alluding to the candidate.
Photographs of the attack on the Republican candidate were also displayed.
Beginning his speech, Trump, who included himself on the list of victims, asked for a minute of silence for the two people who were injured in the attack, as well as for firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed after being shot while supporting the Republican in the audience.
Elon Musk, the main guest in Pennsylvania
The Tesla CEO and owner of the social network X – who backed Trump’s candidacy after the July attack – jumped up on stage with his arms raised.
Although Musk has been aggressively campaigning through X and has been vocal in his support for Trump, this is the first time he has accompanied the candidate at a public event.
Musk urged attendees to register to vote, saying Trump must win this election. “Be a pain in the ass to everyone you know,” the South African told the Republican after expressing his admiration.
Trump’s running mate and Ohio Sen. JD Vance was also in attendance and lashed out at Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats, who have accused Trump of posing a threat to democracy.
“Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What the hell have you done?” he said, addressing Harris and her critics.
🇺🇸 BREAKING:
Elon Musk says: “I’m not just MAGA, I’m Dark MAGA”.
Musk is having a good time at the rally! pic.twitter.com/lJtn9nHi5a
— Beats in Brief (@beatsinbrief) October 5, 2024
Trump and his attacks in the last three months
Trump’s return to Pennsylvania comes amid heightened tensions after claiming to have survived two assassination attempts.
The first occurred on July 13 in Butler, when a 20-year-old, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to gain access to a rooftop with a direct line of sight to the stage where Trump was speaking.
Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents after firing into the crowd. Trump described him as a “cold-blooded killer who wanted to silence me” during his speech on October 5.
The second attack took place on September 15 after Trump reported that a gunman hid for 12 hours with the intention of killing him near his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to investigations into the alleged assassination attempt, a Secret Service agent detected the man before he could carry out his alleged plan.
The attacks have not only intensified the Republican’s campaign, but have also prompted a review of security measures surrounding Trump.
The Secret Service has come under fire for security lapses, leading to the resignation of its director Kimberly Cheatle, and questions about the involvement of women in security detail.
The electoral thermometer in the United States
The final stretch of the campaigns for the November 5 presidential elections between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris has begun.
The latest polls give the Democratic candidate a partial victory as follows: ‘ABC News’, Harris (48%) – Trump (46%) . ‘RealClearPolitics’, Harris (49%) – Trump (46.9%) . ‘FiveThirtyEight’, Harris (48.4%) – Trump (45.9%).
However, neither candidate has managed to win in the polls and, as has happened on previous occasions, victory could be decided in the swing states: Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The New York Times (NYT) reports that Trump has an advantage over Harris in three of the seven swing states – Georgia, Arizona and North Carolina – which could be key to achieving the 270 votes needed to win in the Electoral College.
The NYT has said that the surprise could be in the four remaining swing states, where candidates are doing everything possible to win over voters.
