US elections, Trump and Musk together in Butler
The Republican candidate returns to Pennsylvania, where he had escaped an assassination attempt in July; with him, for the first time on stage, the Ceo of X and Tesla
2' min read
2' min read
On Saturday 5 October, Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, for the first time since he escaped an assassination attempt on 13 July. Amidst imposing security measures and an atmosphere charged with patriotism and tension, the former president spoke, recalling the attack and Corey Comperatore, the former firefighter who died while trying to protect his family.
The tycoon opened his speech with a commemoration for Butler, inviting the audience to observe a minute's silence in his honour. "I return to Butler with a simple message for Pennsylvania and America: our movement is closer to victory than ever," he said with determination. He did not fail to attack his opponents, suggesting that the attack may have been orchestrated by the same 'people who have been trying to stop him for years'.
The crucial moment of the rally, however, was when Trump invited Elon Musk on stage. Black T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Occupy Mars" and black cap, Musk joked that he was a "Dark Maga", embracing the provocative tone of the evening. The South African entrepreneur declared that"this is the most important election of our lifetime" and that at stake is freedom of speech, which is fundamental to democracy. He urged everyone to vote, emphasising the importance of every single vote for Trump's victory.
During the event, the themes touched upon by the Republican candidate were those popular among his supporters: the alleged 'theft' of the 2020 elections, criticism of the Democrats, and a promise to 'stop World War III' if he is re-elected. He also praised his deputy, JD Vance, recalling his "excellent performance" at the debate against Tim Walz.
While the crowd held up signs reading "Fight! Fight! Fight!", Trump tried to stoke the fighting spirit of those present. He also took the opportunity to reiterate his criticism of Kamala Harris, accusing her of being "incompetent" and of wanting to "just raise taxes". "You deserve a country that defends you and is respected as it was four years ago," she said, to applause.
