Trump’s Defiant Speech at Site of His Assassination Attempt: ‘I Will Never Yield’
What began as a memorial transitioned into a typical campaign rally.
Following a shocking assassination attempt that heightened concerns about political violence in an already charged White House race, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee for 2024, returned to the site of the attack on Saturday. In his speech, he boldly stated, “I will never yield, not even in the face of death itself.”
This address marked another pivotal moment in a close race that has left American voters feeling anxious.
Trump’s appearance in Butler, Pennsylvania, exactly three months after being shot there, highlights a turbulent period in the political landscape, characterized by the Democrats switching their lead candidate and the Secret Service thwarting a second assassination attempt against Trump.
Now, the former president speaks behind bulletproof glass, a testament to the extraordinary and tumultuous nature of this campaign—marked by instability, violence, and high stakes.
Despite the shooting in Butler, it hasn’t notably changed the election landscape. After the incident, President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, and Vice President Kamala Harris has shown significant strength since stepping into the lead role.
However, the assassination attempt has become a focal point for Trump, reinforcing his narrative of being persecuted. Since the shooting, Trump has made public appearances over 51 times, referencing the incident in 31 of those occasions, according to YSL News analysis.
Trump and his supporters have linked the assassination attempt to his various legal challenges and past impeachments.
“Those who want to stop us… have slandered me, impeached me, indicted me, tried to disqualify me, and, who knows, maybe even tried to kill me,” Trump asserted on Saturday.
While Trump did not specifically name the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, he did address the ongoing investigations, alluding to them as part of the wider political context contributing to his campaign. His allies, without evidence, claimed Democratic rhetoric played a role in the shooting.
Initially, Trump adopted a more compassionate tone than usual, honoring the victims of the July 13 incident. He paid tribute to “our beautiful Corey” Comperatore, who was killed, and met with his family prior to addressing the crowd.
He praised the U.S. Secret Service and Butler first responders, but eventually shifted towards more combative political rhetoric.
With just a month to go until Election Day, Trump launched attacks on immigration policy and promised extensive deportations, criticized the Biden administration’s response to hurricanes, praised his running mate JD Vance’s debate performance, decried ongoing investigations into his actions, boasted about what he claimed are favorable poll numbers, and lambasted what he described as a “very corrupt political establishment.”
“I will never abandon, I will never break, I will never yield— not even when facing death,” Trump declared emphatically.
At one point during his speech, he mentioned that “we have an enemy within,” although he did not specify whom he meant. He also described the current state of the world as “evil” and “sick.”
While Trump avoided mentioning Harris or Biden initially, he later included familiar criticisms of “Kamala” and other Democrats within his speech.
He claimed, “Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” asserting that a victory for him would represent “the greatest achievement in the history of politics.”
The rally also featured a notable appearance by billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who criticized Biden’s age and remarked that Trump’s response to the assassination attempt displayed “courage under fire.” Musk warned of dire consequences if Trump supporters fail to register and cast their votes.
“If they fail to do so, this could be the final election,” Musk stated. “That’s my forecast.”
Trump’s address rounded off a day filled with activities that were both commemorative and political, showcasing various Republican candidates, musical performances, parachutists, and a flyover featuring Trump’s aircraft.
“What an incredible audience,” JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, remarked while on stage at the event. “We’re here to declare that we will not be intimidated – we cannot be stopped. We will not be denied.”
In addition to honoring Trump and the victims of the shooting, Vance criticized Harris and other Trump opponents for using “dangerous, inflammatory language,” suggesting that it has fostered an environment conducive to violence.
“It was inevitable that someone would try to kill him,” Vance stated.
Vance criticized Harris for referring to the Republican candidate as a danger to democracy, adding: “Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy – what have you done?”
Vance notably refrained from mentioning Trump’s own history of using violent language throughout his political career.
The Trump campaign also aimed to leverage the event in Butler for fundraising purposes.
Throughout the day, campaign messages were sent out requesting donations with an emphatic quote from Trump stating: “I’M BACK IN BUTLER TO SPEAK TO THE NATION! If every PATRIOT contributes just $5, we’ll break a RALLY RECORD:”
While Vance condemned the Democrats for their provocative language, some Republican speakers at the Butler event expressed their own extreme views regarding the high-stakes election.
“This conflict is no longer merely between Republicans and Democrats or left and right – it is a battle of good versus evil,” claimed Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee. “And goodness will prevail in this fight.”
