So much has happened since that July day when Donald Trump was nearly assassinated before the cameras. But today, he went back to Butler, Pennsylvania.

We are still sorting through the chaos and tragedy of what happened the last time Trump took the stage in Butler. An innocent man died while protecting his family. Two others were wounded. The Secret Service has yet to be held fully accountable for all their failures. We still have very limited information on the shooter himself.

And what has happened since then? Joe Biden was shown the door, Kamala Harris was anointed by the Democrats as the new candidate, and there was ANOTHER assassination attempt on Trump’s life. Returning to Butler is a way to remind everyone that really, not much time has passed since July – it’s been less than three months! – and yet the entire landscape of the race, and the country, has changed dramatically.

The rally is intended to be a triumphant moment for the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, symbolizing his perseverance and his fighting spirit. Former President Theodore Roosevelt tried something similar when he was shot during a trip to Milwaukee on Oct. 14, 1912, at the height of his third-party campaign to regain the presidency.

Roosevelt insisted on delivering his speech that night, despite a bloodied shirt and what biographer Edmund Morris called a “dime-sized hole, bleeding slowly, about an inch below and to the right of his right nipple.” He lost the race anyway.

(Two things should be noted here – Teddy Roosevelt’s wound was much more severe than Donald Trump’s, though no less of a shock, and Roosevelt’s third-party candidacy ended up splitting the Republican vote between himself and Taft – which gave Woodrow Wilson the presidency. Trump is the nominee of the Republican party, which makes the dynamics of the race much more straightforward. Roosevelt’s loss had nothing to do with the assassination attempt on his life, and USA TODAY is really stretching to make that connection.)

Trump’s return to Butler will cement the narrative he tells about the shooting, its role in his campaign and its significance to his supporters.

“President Trump looks forward to returning to Butler, Pennsylvania to honor the victims from that tragic day,” Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told USA TODAY. “The willingness of Pennsylvanians to join President Trump in his return to Butler represents the strength and resiliency of the American people.”

Speaking of that assassination attempt, a Vietnam veteran gave his own Purple Heart to Donald Trump at an event in North Carolina yesterday.

United States Marine and Vietnam veteran who gave President Trump his Purple Heart joins him on stage in North Carolina. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/h0hQBfLXy6

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 4, 2024

The former Marine, identified only as Dwight, appeared on stage midway through the Republican presidential nominee’s town hall event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to present him with the “small token.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who was moderating the event, read a letter Dwight had penned to Trump in the aftermath of the assassination attempt, before the veteran personally handed the 45th president an envelope containing the award.

“Dear President Trump, watching you during the Butler rally, and you getting back up, both my wife and I gave a sigh of relief as well as a few tears,” read the letter.

“I would be honored if you would accept this small token I received as a young marine in Vietnam,” it continued. “My wife and I both thought it appropriate. God bless you, your family, and the United States of America. Sincerely, Dwight.”

Trump, who on Saturday will return to Butler for the first time since the assassination attempt, called it “a great honor” to receive Dwight’s Purple Heart.

That level of emotional connection is bringing people back to Butler.

“That man stood there and took a bullet for us and stood up and told us to fight, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing,” Devin Dashnaw told The Daily Wire in a phone interview ahead of the rally. “If I could stand on stage right behind him, that’s where I would be.”

The Daily Wire has learned that dozens of the rally goers who stood behind Trump as bullets flew are determined to once again flank the former president. Some of these supporters said they have been selected by the Trump campaign to sit behind the former president and to meet him after the rally. Some are excited, others are anxious, dwelling on the tragic death of Corey Comporatare(sic) on July 13, or scanning news reports about updated safety measures for Saturday.

All of them echo Dashnaw’s sentiment: they are going on Saturday, worried or not, to stand behind the man who stood up for them.

And not only are the people showing up (along with all the media cameras), but Elon Musk is going to be showing up and speaking as well.

Headed to Pennsylvania to speak at the @realDonaldTrump rally in Butler!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 5, 2024

Musk, who has not been shy about expressing his support for Donald Trump in this election, will be onstage with the former president. Considering that Elon Musk has put his money where his mouth is when it comes to free speech and battling censorship, and Tim Walz pretty much went full pro-censorship during the debate, I’m sure that Musk will be speaking up on behalf of free speech.

Returning to Butler is a no-brainer for the Trump campaign, honestly. Pennsylvania is a crucial swing state, and even John Fetterman has commented that the assassination attempt has forged a special connection between the people of the commonwealth and Donald Trump. And this time, the Secret Service knows all eyes are on them.

They made it up there? https://t.co/ciAxbPFPgF

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 5, 2024

Butler County is probably the safest place in the country today, between thousands of Trump supporters and the increased scrutiny on the Secret Service.

This post will be updated once Elon Musk and Donald Trump have spoken at the rally.

UPDATE 5:05 PM ET
Donald Trump, when he landed in Pennsylvania, greeted the Comperatore family on the tarmac.
https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1842657030630158605
J.D. Vance has spoken at the rally as well, and honored those who were wounded that day.

.@JDVance acknowledges the survivors of the July 13th assassination attempt — David Dutch and James Copenhaver — and pays his respects to our fallen hero, Corey Comperatore. pic.twitter.com/BEePE4T6Tb

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 5, 2024

Trump has taken the stage now, and started his speech in the most epic way possible.
https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1842687307352060254
He went on to graciously honor and thank the Secret Service and local police for protecting him in July.

UPDATE 6:50 PM ET
Donald Trump handed over the podium to Elon Musk. Elon stressed the importance of free speech, and then put out the call – get registered to vote, and make sure you vote.

Elon Musk is urging everyone to check their voter registration and to vote. #FightFightFight #VoteVoteVote pic.twitter.com/uk09qlZSfJ

— Freyja™ (@FreyjaTarte) October 5, 2024

Elon finished his remarks with “Fight! Fight! Fight! Vote! Vote! Vote!”

Featured image: video screenshot of live event via media and AP specifically, editorial use only, cropped and modified