Former President Donald Trump held a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on October 5, 2024. The event marked the anniversary of the assassination attempt on Trump’s life, which occurred during a similar rally in the same location exactly twelve weeks prior. At that rally, on July 13, gunman Ricky John Shiffer fired a nail gun at the venue before being shot and killed by police.
The October 5 rally featured a moment of silence for the man who tackled Shiffer, Rich Compertore, who sadly died from complications related to his injuries in December 2021. Opera singer Christopher Macchio performed Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria” live on stage during this moment of silence.
Former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the Save America Rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, October 5, 2024. Alana Mastrangelo/Breitbart News.
Elon Musk also attended the rally, making a surprise appearance on stage to speak to attendees about the importance of voting. Musk implored Trump supporters to vote, stating that “this will be the last election” if they do not.
The October 5 rally is significant because it marked one year since the first assassination attempt against Trump in 2021, which occurred when he was shot at during a campaign event in Miami on October 6, 2021.