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Former President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday (October 5) for the first time since an assassination attempt during a previous rally at the same location less than three full months prior.
"Tonight, I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and the people of America: our movement to Make America Great Again stands stronger, prouder, more united, more determined, and nearer to victory than ever before. We are going to Make America Great Again," Trump said.
The former president was targeted during an assassination attempt in Butler on July 13. The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was immediately taken out by Secret Service agents, though was also reported to be on officials' radar as a suspicious person more than 90 minutes before opening fire.
Trump's right ear was grazed during the shooting and he was seen yelling "fight" to his supporters while being evacuated from the rally by Secret Service members. One spectator, identified as Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed during the incident while two others, David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, and James Copenhaver, 74, were initially critically wounded but later upgraded to stable condition.
"Exactly 12 weeks ago this evening, on this very ground, a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me and to silence the greatest movement, MAGA, in the history of our country, MAGA. We love MAGA," Trump said. "For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper's perch not so far away. But by the hand of Providence and the Grace of God, that villain did not succeed in his goal, did not come close. He did not stop our movement, he did not break out our spirit, he did not shake our unyielding resolve to save America from evils of poverty, hatred and distruction."
Trump had previously described his return to Butler as unfinished business. The former president accepted the nomination for president at the Republican National Convention days after the initial assassination attempt.
Trump was also targeted by a would-be shooter at his West Palm Beach golf course on September 15, confirming he was "safe and well" shortly after.