The former president will fulfill his promise to the people of the western Pennsylvania community north of Pittsburgh on Saturday when he returns to the site of the attempted assassination on July 13. A huge crowd is expected in Butler, PA, as Trump plans to "celebrate a unifying vision for America's future in an event like the world has never seen before."
While The Associated Press devoted several inches of copy to answering the question Is Butler ready? for Trump to return, Diane Gramley – president of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania – has no apprehension about the visit and the impact it could have on the campaign.
"I think his visit [this weekend] back to Butler will play a big role. He's spent a lot of time in Pennsylvania as a whole," she notes, "but I think going back to Butler, the place of the first assassination attempt when we all saw that iconic move of his getting up and raising his fist and saying fight, fight, fight – that has made such an impression on so many people. Some places we see yard signs with that picture and the words fight, fight, fight."
As for the turnout? "Trump's rallies are much larger than [Kamala] Harris's rallies. There's no question about that – much more enthusiasm," Gramley predicts.
And because Pennsylvania remains a battleground state, both major party candidates are pulling out the stops in hopes of grabbing the state's 19 electoral votes on November 5. Elon Musk is planning to join Trump in Butler – and former President Barack Obama reportedly will be campaigning on Harris' behalf in Pennsylvania next week.
As expected, security will be tight on the grounds of Butler Farm Show fairgrounds. Trump is expected to honor Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who died in the assassination attempt shielding his wife and daughters; as well as two others at the July rally who were wounded – David Dutch and James Copenhaver.
