Vance urges community support for Trump at Butler rally

WASHINGTON — Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance urged the community to rally behind Donald Trump’s presidential campaign during a visit to the site of an assassination attempt against the former president.

Speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Vance reflected on the July 13 attack, in which Trump sustained an injury to his right ear.

“We are so proud to stand here in Butler County, Pennsylvania, ready to take back the White House, ready to take back this country,” Vance told supporters.

He recalled the day of the attack, stating, “Eighty-four days ago, on this very field, an assassin tried to fill our hearts with terror. But we’re here to say we can’t be intimidated. We cannot be stopped. We will make America great again.”

The attack was carried out by Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman, who opened fire during Trump’s rally. In a separate incident in September, Secret Service agents thwarted another assassination attempt on Trump while he was playing golf in West Palm Beach, Florida. Agents fired at the suspect, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who had been spotted with a rifle outside Trump’s golf course.

At the rally, Vance emphasized resilience and criticized both the media and political opponents for their rhetoric against Trump.

He also targeted Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who previously accused Trump of undermining democracy.

“Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy. What the hell have you done?” Vance said, challenging Harris and accusing her and her allies of attacking Trump to silence his supporters. — Agencies