“Jesus is my Savior; Trump is my President,” said another.
For some, however, the trauma of the assassination attempt still lingers.
Butler resident Melissa Sehrecen was at the rally on July 13 but at this event chose to watch Trump’s speech from the back of the venue, in case something happened and she needed to get out quickly.
“I remember just standing there when I heard ‘pop, pop, pop’. I looked at my friend, and we both ducked down, and I said a prayer,” she said. “You never think something like that is going to happen.”
Trump’s right ear was grazed when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire from a nearby roof, in an incident that shocked the world and reignited the debate over political violence in the US.
When he made his first appearance after the shooting at the Republican National Convention two days later, he appeared sombre and uncertain as he walked onto the convention floor.
But while Trump began today’s speech with a more optimistic tone, it didn’t take long before he returned to form, hitting out at Democrats over everything from fracking and immigration, to transgender athletes and foreign wars.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk listens as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Pennsylvania.Credit: AP
Earlier, Trump’s vice presidential running mate JD Vance revved up the rally and suggested Harris incited the assassination attempt by depicting Trump as a threat to democracy.
“How dare you talk about threats to democracy,” he said.
“Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy – what the hell have you done?”
Damase Pendelton at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania at the weekend.Credit: Farrah Tomazin
Musk, wearing a black cap and black t-shirt was also called to the stage, jubilantly declaring: “I’m not just MAGA – I’m dark MAGA!”
Trump began his speech around 5.30pm – almost eight hours after the gates opened. Before arriving, his plane, Trump Force One, circled in the sky above the rally, much to the thrill of the tens of thousands of fans gathered below.
Among those in the crowd was Damase Pendelton, who is black but was wearing a tee shirt that echoed Trump’s doubts about Harris’ racial identity.
“Roses are red, Kamala’s not black, Joe has dementia and Hunter’s on crack,” it read.
“My family came off a plantation and fought for freedoms,” he said.
“Trump stands for a lot of the freedoms that we fight for, and now they’re under attack.
“So I knew I had to be here, to support him and be a part of history.”
Dave Beazley, a Michigan resident also attended the event and arrived carrying a giant wooden crucifix.
“Our motto in this country is One Nation Under God, and Trump is the only one who can bring us all back to that,” he said.
Harris, meanwhile, headed to Charlotte in North Carolina to check on the recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene and to meet with people affected by the storm.
The night before, her husband, Doug Emhoff appeared on stage in Pittsburgh, about an hour from Butler, to headline a rally alongside REM lead singer Michael Stipe.
In the crowd were Pittsburgh residents Kit Ayars and Cindy Abbott. Asked how they felt about Harris’ chances at the election, Abbott replied: “Cautiously optimistic”.
Kit Ayars and Cindy Abbott at a Kamala Harris rally in Pittsburgh.Credit: Farrah Tomazin
Ayars agreed.
“To me, it seems like it should be a slam dunk, and yet the polls are very close,” she said.
“I understand that for some people, Trump’s personality and policies are resonating. I don’t understand why, but I know it’s happening, so I do want to temper my optimism with that dose of reality.”
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