Trump planning return to Pennsylvania town and site of first assassination attempt
WASHINGTON - Donald Trump‘s campaign said Wednesday he will hold an Oct. 5 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, site of the first assassination attempt against the 2024 Republican presidential nominee in mid-July.
“President Trump’s return to Butler will mark his first visit to the site of the attack since he was struck by an assassin’s bullet on July 13th - but was saved in what the world has recognized as an act of divine providence,” the campaign said in a statement.
The Oct. 5 rally will be held at Butler Farm Show, Inc., “the very same ground where he came within a quarter of an inch of losing his life less than three months ago,” the campaign said in its announcement.
Trump has long said he wanted to return to Butler to finish the rally that was cut short by gunfire. His new Butler event comes after a second assassination attempt earlier this month at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla.
The Trump campaign has also said that U.S. intelligence officials have warned them about an Iranian plot to kill him.
The former president has discussed attempts on his life at his recent campaign events. That includes a Monday economic speech in North Carolina in which he suggested that Iran might have been involved in the two assassination attempts, although there is no evidence to back up that claim.
Wednesday's campaign statement said that Trump will use his Butler re-appearance to honor the memory of supporter Corey Comperatore, who lost his life while shielding his wife and daughters from the gunfire.
Trump will also pay tribute to supporters David Dutch and James Copenhaver, both of whom were wounded during the attack.
"After not one, but two attempts on his life in the past nine weeks, President Trump is more determined than ever to see his mission through to the end," the campaign said.
This story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump announces return to assassination attempt site in Pennsylvania