Butler, PA: In a highly charged rally on Saturday, former President Donald Trump was joined on stage by tech billionaire Elon Musk, drawing a crowd of thousands in Butler, Pennsylvania. The event came as Trump condemned the would-be assassin who attempted to attack him earlier this summer, referring to the individual as a “vicious monster.”
Speaking from behind bulletproof glass, Trump recalled the traumatic incident from July 13, during which he was shot in the ear. “Exactly 12 weeks ago this evening, on this very ground, a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me,” he told supporters, who responded with enthusiastic cheers.
Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump, took the opportunity to bolster his endorsement with sharp criticisms of President Joe Biden. “We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who is fist pumping after getting shot,” Musk stated, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.
The attempted attack was carried out by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was shot and killed by a Secret Service agent after climbing a nearby rooftop with a direct line of sight to Trump.
In a moment that has since gone viral, Trump raised a fist and shouted, “fight, fight, fight,” energizing his supporters as the rally reached its peak.
As the presidential campaign heats up, both Trump and Musk seem to be harnessing the dramatic events of the summer to galvanize their respective bases, positioning themselves for the upcoming election.