Former President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will hold a “big and beautiful” rally in Butler, Pa. — marking a return to the town where he survived an assassination attempt just two weeks ago.
Trump, 78, plans to honor hero firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the July 13 shooting, as well as the two rallygoers — James Copenhaver and David Dutch — who were seriously injured.
“I WILL BE GOING BACK TO BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, FOR A BIG AND BEAUTIFUL RALLY, HONORING THE SOUL OF OUR BELOVED FIREFIGHTING HERO, COREY, AND THOSE BRAVE PATRIOTS INJURED TWO WEEKS AGO,” the Republican presidential nominee wrote on Truth Social.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents after an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. AP
Trump said a “big and beautiful rally” would take place. Truth Social“WHAT A DAY IT WILL BE — FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS,” he added.
Trump’s right ear was left bloodied after being grazed by a bullet. AFP via Getty ImagesTrump previously honored Comperatore at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week, where he spoke highly of the 50-year-old married father of two and displayed his firefighting gear on stage. Comperatore died shielding his wife and two daughters from the gunfire of Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was shot dead by a Secret Service sniper.
It’s unclear if Trump plans to visit the Butler Farm Show Grounds — the site of the assassination attempt — during his return to the western Pennsylvania town.
Everything we know about the Trump assassination attempt
- 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks was identified as the shooter who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
- Crooks was shot dead by Secret Service agents.
- The gunman grazed Trump’s ear, killed a 50-year-old retired fire chief, and injured two other rally-goers.
- Investigators detailed Crooks’ search history to lawmakers, revealing that he looked for the dates of Trump’s appearances and the Democratic National Convention.
- Crooks’ search history also revealed a broad interest in high-profile people and celebrities, regardless of their political affiliation, FBI officials reportedly said.
- Trump exclusively recounted surviving the “surreal” assassination attempt with The Post at the rally, remarking, “I’m supposed to be dead.”
- High-profile politicians, including President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, addressed the nation about the shooting, calling it “a heinous, horrible and cowardly act.”
In the wake of the assassination attempt against the former president, the Secret Service has recommended that the Trump campaign no longer schedule outdoor rallies, according to the Washington Post.
Trump has two upcoming campaign events on his schedule: A July 27 rally in St. Cloud, Minn., and a July 31 rally in Harrisburg, Pa. Both events are being held at indoor arenas.
Trump hugs and kisses the uniform of retired firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died from an assassin’s bullet in Butler, Pennsylvania, as Trump delivered remarks during the last day of the Republican National Convention. JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockThe two rallies he’s held since the shooting have also been indoors.
Trump’s announcement comes one day after he tore into FBI Director Christopher Wray for casting doubt on whether he was actually hit by a bullet at the Butler, Pa., rally.
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
- Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’
- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
“With respect to former President Trump, there’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray said during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday.
The FBI director’s response prompted Trump to fire back on social media.
“No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!” the former president wrote on Truth Social.
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who was Trump’s former White House physician and attended to the ex-president after the shooting, noted Friday that there is “absolutely no evidence” that what struck Trump’s ear was “anything other than a bullet.”
The Post has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.







