Trump Returns to Butler: A Town Still Reeling From Tragedy
In the heart of Butler County, Western Pennsylvania, a region known for its unwavering support of Donald Trump, remnants of the tragedy that unfolded just a few months ago still linger. With pro-Trump billboards scattered across front yards and gas stations, it’s clear this area remains steadfast in its political leanings. Messages like “Bulletproof” emblazoned on images of Trump with his fist raised, capture the resilience of both the former president and his supporters, who now face the aftermath of a near-fatal shooting that shook their community.
On July 13, 2024, a rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds turned tragic when a gunman fired at Trump, narrowly missing him. The bullet grazed the former president’s ear, but the town was forever changed. As Trump prepares to return for another rally, the community continues to grapple with the events of that day.
Butler County has always been a Republican stronghold, a place where Trump received twice as many votes as Biden in 2020. However, the rally-turned-shooting has cast a long shadow over the town, one typically celebrated for its manufacturing roots, especially as the home of the American Jeep. Now, it’s remembered as the site where a former president narrowly escaped assassination.
For many in Butler, the scars are still fresh. Jim Hulings, chairman of the Butler County Republican Party, was just 30 feet away when the shots rang out. “I thought he was dead,” he recalls. Hulings, like many others, is haunted by that moment. “I couldn’t believe someone would try to kill a great man like that.”
Jondavid Longo, mayor of the nearby town of Slippery Rock, was also on stage that day, just moments before the gunfire erupted. As shots rang out, Longo instinctively shielded his pregnant wife, an act he replays in his mind every day. “We’re still coming to terms with it,” he says. The loss of life weighs heavily on him and the community.
One person who didn’t survive was Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old former firefighter. In a split second, he sacrificed his life, throwing himself in front of his wife and daughters to protect them from the gunfire. His widow, Helen, still struggles to process the loss. “I see it every time I close my eyes,” she says, her grief palpable. Corey, who had been married to Helen for nearly 30 years, had joked earlier that day that Trump might invite him on stage.
Months after the shooting, the community is still asking questions. How did the 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Crooks, manage to evade security? His motive remains unclear, but what is known is that a series of critical security failures allowed the tragedy to unfold. Crooks was able to fly a drone over the rally grounds undetected, and suspicious behavior reported by police was not properly communicated to Secret Service. Crooks eventually climbed onto a roof near the rally and fired eight shots before being killed by a Secret Service sniper.
For those who witnessed the events, the trauma remains. Lucie Roth, seated in the VIP section behind Trump, initially thought the gunshots were fireworks. “I dropped to the floor, thinking he was dead,” she recalls. Nearby, 11-year-old Gino Benford, dressed as a Trump impersonator, was also caught in the chaos. “I just couldn’t understand why someone would do that to a great president,” Gino says.
Greg Smith, a local shop owner, was among the first to see the gunman on the roof. He tried to warn the Secret Service but was met with frustration as his warnings went unheeded. “I kept yelling, pointing. I couldn’t believe no one was doing anything,” Greg remembers. His actions that day, captured by the BBC, were viewed by millions around the world, shedding light on the security lapses that allowed the attack to happen.
Now, as Trump prepares to return to Butler, the town is once again in the spotlight. Helen Comperatore, despite her grief, plans to attend the rally with her daughters. “Corey would have wanted us to go,” she says quietly. As the town tries to heal, the memory of that day will undoubtedly hang heavy in the air.
