Elon Musk says 'will be there to support' as Trump returns to site of July assassination attempt for rally

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has never shied away from showing his support for former United States president andRepublican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and this time the X owner isset to attend one of hisrallies in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday (Oct 5). Musk seeminglyconfirmed that he will bepresentat the rally, replying to Trump’s post promoting the event. “I will be there to support!” Musk said in a post.

This rally is particularly important as Trump returns to Butler, Pennsylvania where he witnessed an assassination attempt during a rally in July and sustained injuries.

Pennsylvania, a key swing state, was also vital to Trump’s 2016 victory, but he lost it in the 2020 election. The rally is seen as an important part of the Republican candidate’s campaign to win over votersas the 2024 election approaches.

On July 13, a gunman named Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, targeted the former president just minutes after he took the stage at the Butler rally. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear, narrowly missing his head. One person in the crowd was killed, and two others were injured before the gunman was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.

Shortly after the shooting, Musk publicly endorsed Trump for the 2024 election, praising the former president's resilience as he stood up moments after being hit, with blood running down his face, and chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

The aftermath of the attack saw Republicans rally behind Trump, while the Secret Service faced criticism for security lapses. This eventually led to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle following a hearing.

Second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump

Trump faced another assassination attempt in September when 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly hid at one of hisFlorida golf courses for nearly 12 hours, trying to aim a gun through a fence while the former president played golf.

The Secret Service thwarted the plan, and Routh was arrested after he tried to flee the scene.

Following the second incident, Musk took to X to question why no attempts had been made on the lives of Democrats Vice PresidentKamala Harris or President Joe Biden, while Trump had been targeted twice.

(With inputs from agencies)