Billionaire tech executive Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at a Donald Trump rally, describing the upcoming presidential election as critical for American democracy. He warned it could be the “last election” if Trump loses.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla (now X), joined Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, the site of a previous assassination attempt against the former president. Sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat, Musk declared himself “Dark MAGA,” solidifying his alliance with Trump in the election’s final weeks. This marked Musk’s first appearance at a Trump rally, highlighting his growing support for the Republican candidate. Musk has established a super PAC supporting Trump and invested heavily in get-out-the-vote efforts. Trump has suggested he would appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission if re-elected.
This rally followed a two-hour public conversation between Trump and Musk on X, where they discussed the assassination attempt, immigration, and deregulation.
At the rally, Musk presented Trump as a champion of free speech, claiming Democrats want to restrict freedoms related to speech, gun ownership, and voting rights. He criticized California’s attempts to ban voter ID requirements.
The event was held at the same location where a gunman’s bullets grazed Trump’s ear and killed a supporter, Corey Comperatore, injuring several others. Trump resumed his speech from where it was interrupted in July, stressing the importance of voting and preventing a repeat attack. He declared, “Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America… All we are all asking is that everyone goes out and votes. We got to win. We can’t let this happen to our country.”
With only 30 days until the election and voting underway in some states, the Trump campaign capitalized on the event’s news value. Musician Lee Greenwood performed his rally staple “God Bless the USA,” and Musk delivered his first Trump rally speech. Trump proclaimed, “We fought together. We have endured together. We have pushed onward together. And right here in Pennsylvania, we have bled together. We’ve bled.”
Trump opened the rally with a moment of silence for Comperatore, a firefighter who died shielding his family from gunfire. Classical singer Christopher Macchio sang “Ave Maria” after a bell tolled at the exact time the shooting began in July. Comperatore’s family, including his widow, Helen, attended.
Speaking from behind protective glass, Trump called the would-be assassin a “vicious monster” and credited his survival to “providence and the grace of God.” Security was significantly heightened, with armed officers positioned on rooftops. Trump also acknowledged the two other injured rallygoers, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. The shooter, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by sharpshooters.
The building from which Crooks fired was obscured by barriers. Questions remain about how Crooks breached security and got so close to the former president, representing a major Secret Service failure. His motive is also unknown.
Pennsylvania is a crucial swing state in the election. Trump narrowly lost the state in 2020 after winning it in 2016. He needs to boost turnout in conservative areas like Butler County to reclaim the state. Harris has also focused on Pennsylvania, holding numerous rallies there. Trump criticized Harris’ past opposition to fracking, crucial to Pennsylvania’s economy, and made claims about the federal response to Hurricane Helene and the number of missing migrant children.
Large crowds gathered for the rally, filling bleachers and the surrounding field. Local accommodations were reportedly booked solid, with some attendees arriving the previous day. Trump briefly paused his speech to address a medical emergency in the crowd. Butler County, heavily Republican, is a key area for Trump’s support base.
Attendees expressed mixed feelings about Trump’s return to Butler. Some, like Chris Harpster, returned despite feeling scared during the July incident, citing Trump’s positions on immigration, guns, abortion, and energy as their primary motivations. Others, like Heidi Priest, expressed concern about increased political tensions. Terri Palmquist, who travelled from California despite her daughter’s worries, said she wasn’t concerned about safety and believed in Trump. She declared, “Honesty, I believe God’s got Trump, for some reason. I do. So we’re rooting for him.”