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Donald Trump pledges Mars exploration as he returns to site of assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania
Standing beside billionaire Elon Musk, Mr Trump promised that the US will "reach Mars" before the end of his second term, should he be re-elected.



By Niamh Lynch and Andy Hayes, news reporters 




Sunday 6 October 2024 08:33, UK










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2:09





Elon Musk joins Donald Trump on stage












































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Donald Trump has returned to the site where he survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania - and opened with a joke."Thank you," he told a large crowd, reportedly in the tens of thousands. "A very big thank you. We love Pennsylvania, and, as I was saying..." - which sparked cheers from the audience.



He added: "I return to Butler to deliver a simple message... We are going to make America great again, we are going to win the election."Discussing the assassination attempt, Mr Trump said the gunman "aimed to silence me and the MAGA movement".He continued: "For 16 seconds, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil. That villain did not succeed."





Discussing his campaign for the White House, he promised to halve energy prices, pledged large tax cuts, and claimed his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, is strongly left-wing.He also promised that the US will "reach Mars" before the end of his second term, should he be re-elected, and pledged "no men in women's sports". 

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Image:
Donald Trump has returned to Butler, Pennsylvania. Pic: Reuters
        



Shortly after Mr Trump started speaking, the crowd chanted "Corey", referencing firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died as he shielded his family from the gunfire on 13 July.At 6.11pm, the time when shots rang out, Mr Trump called for a moment of silence. A bell tolled four times, once for each of the four victims, including him. 











Some in the crowd chanted "fight, fight, fight" - which Mr Trump used to rally his followers moments after he was shot.He later repeated the phrase himself, while his vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, said the former president "took a bullet for democracy". 





Image:
Vice presidential nominee JD Vance and Elon Musk. Pic: Reuters
        



There was a pause while a member of the crowd was treated by medics - and a spontaneous rendition of the American national anthem.Elon Musk, the tycoon behind Tesla and SpaceX, and now the owner of the X social media platform, took to the stage briefly and urged people to register to vote.The entrepreneur said there is no truer test than courage under fire.In an apparent reference to Joe Biden, who stepped down and was replaced by Ms Harris as the Democrat pick, Mr Musk said the US previously had one presidential candidate who "couldn't climb a flight of stairs", and another who shouted "fight, fight, fight".In addition, he claimed Mr Trump must win next month's presidential election "to preserve the constitution" and to "preserve democracy in America"."This is a must-win situation," Mr Musk said. 


Poignant but purposely political - Trump returns to Butler






Mark Stone

US correspondent
@Stone_SkyNews



It was always probable that Donald Trump would return to Butler; that he would want to go back to the place where he almost died.
That moment exactly twelve weeks ago was more than a near-death experience. For his most loyal supporters, it underlined the increasingly divine status that he carries.
In the crowd, Trump signs had been redesigned: "Trump" replaced with "Jesus". One supporter arrived pulling a life-sized crucifix.
As always, the choreography was, for the audience, pitch-perfect. The Top Gun theme tune filled the Pennsylvania countryside as his plane, branded TRUMP, flew low overhead.
Read the rest of Mark's analysis


Mr Trump was back at Butler Farm Show grounds - the location of the attempted assassination attempt in July.He was whisked off stage with blood dripping across his face in one of the defining images of this year's campaign.Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from an unsecured rooftop before being fatally shot. 





Image:
Pic: AP
        



His motive for the shooting is still unknown. The incident raised serious questions about security failures within the Secret Service.Its director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigned less than two weeks after the shooting.Read more:Trump v Harris - how their records compare Melania Trump speaks out on abortion rightsHow does Trump keep his support so strong? 









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A second attempt was allegedly made on Mr Trump's life last month when a gunman hid undetected for nearly 12 hours at the former president's golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, with plans to kill him, prosecutors have said.The alleged gunman was stopped by a Secret Service agent patrolling the course ahead of the former president.
 


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Trips to Mars will be worth billions - - -  to Elon