Trump says he’s ‘going back to Butler’ in October

Former President Donald Trump said he plans to return to Butler for a rally in October, just a few months after he was injured in an attempted assassination.

“We’re going back to Butler and we’re going to go back in October,” Trump said Monday during a conversation with Elon Musk on social media platform X. “We’re all set up.” 

Trump did not specify a specific date or location for the event. 

“President Trump is looking forward to returning to Butler and sharing an important visit with the people of Pennsylvania who he loves,” Kush Desai, Team Trump Pennsylvania communications director, told the Capital-Star. “We will soon have additional details so stay tuned.”

Trump’s rally at Butler Farm Show Inc. on July 13 was cut short after a gunman opened fire, killing spectator Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, and wounding two others. Trump suffered a wound in the right ear. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed at the scene.

Following the assassination attempt, Trump has not held an outdoor rally, although he posted on social media in late July that he plans to resume them. 

Kimberly Geyer, vice chairperson of the Butler County Board of Commissioners, told the Capital-Star on Tuesday that commissioners have not received official word on Trump’s October return, but that it is possible Republican Party leaders have been notified, adding county officials do not typically plan or initiate those types of events. 

“I would expect the next rally to be held outdoors as there is no indoor event space big enough here in Butler County to accommodate the attendees that typically attend a Trump event here in Butler County,” Geyer told the Capital-Star. “Given the July circumstances, crowds are expected to be larger than usual upon former President Trump’s return.”

Trump’s most recent appearance in Pennsylvania was July 31 for an indoor rally in Harrisburg, which was his first visit to the state following the assassination attempt. He has scheduled an indoor rally Saturday in Wilkes-Barre. 

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick attended the Butler rally and was seated close to Trump when shots were fired. He told reporters on Tuesday that he didn’t want to speculate whether the rally would be indoors or outdoors, but said he hopes that Trump comes back to Butler for a rally at some point, noting it was an “historical moment.” 

“In my opinion, he showed unbelievable courage in the moment and I think that gave people a sense of real strength,” McCormick said on Tuesday.