Trump and Musk Unite in Butler Rally, Fueling Republican Hopes for Election Victory

Photo via Reuters

VILDA WESTH BLANC: Donald Trump claimed his role as an American savior as he returned to the site of his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, this time with Elon Musk by his side.

Following the assassination attempt that struck Trump in the ear last July, he confirmed that he would be returning to Butler for a “big and beautiful rally.” On Oct. 5, Trump did just that. Not only was the rally a time to honor firefighter Corey Comperatore, who lost his life as shots were fired at Trump, but it was also a huge step forward to uniting the Republican Party.

Thousands of supporters gathered with heightened security as Trump sought to recapture his aura as a hero. “I think God has a reason for doing things, and his reason might very well be that he wants to save this country, maybe save the world," said Trump.

Ashley Gunn, Trump’s former special assistant and current GU Politics Fellow, attended the rally and was filled with emotions witnessing the collective support for Trump. “It was the first time that I felt true hope for the Republican Party since 2016,” said Gunn. “People came from all across the country and drove for hours to get here at the break of dawn and support Donald Trump.”

Trump was accompanied by the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, who recently endorsed Trump’s campaign.

Musk offered a speech of encouragement and motivation to the crowd of supporters and online viewers, urging them to register to vote and reinforcing the claim that Trump is the right candidate for America. “The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire,” said Musk. “President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America. This is a must-win situation.”

Musk’s presence in Butler caught a lot of voters’ attention across the United States as they questioned the extent of his influence on the Trump campaign.

Musk has offered more than $70 million to help Trump win the election in November. However, critics have argued that Musk’s endorsement of Trump is a strategy to buy his way into the political scene.

Gunn, who has worked closely with both Trump and Musk, defended the Republican Party and Musk’s endorsement. “Look at SpaceX and Tesla for example, Elon is just passionate about change,” said Gunn. “His endorsement is not going to make his business any better, but it will make America better. It is true patriotism.”

Trump, known for his lack of support towards climate change movements and electric vehicles, has not altered his rhetoric since gaining support from Musk, an important figure in the EV industry. “I want people to understand that Trump’s policies will hurt Elon,” said Gunn. “He’s doing this because he wants the United States to be strong.”

Beyond the political policy implications and the immense investment that Musk has made in Trump’s campaign, Musk has been a critical figure in motivating Americans to get out and vote. “This election could be decided by 1,000 votes, 500 votes, a tiny margin,” said Musk in Pennsylvania. “Vote, vote, vote.”

Not only has Musk been vocal about imploring Americans to play their role in American democracy, but he is now offering $1 million daily to voters in swing states who sign his petition supporting free speech and gun rights.

When questioned about the importance of voting for Americans, Gunn said, “It is such an honor and a privilege to vote and people should be using that power to make a difference.”

Only two weeks away from election day, the results still appear to be a toss-up. Candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are neck and neck with CNBC’s latest poll showing Trump at 48% and Harris at 46% among registered voters. The United States remains polarized, with voters suggesting that Trump is preferred for economic issues, but Harris leads in terms of trust and character. 

Only time will tell which candidate will come out on top, but Americans are encouraged to play their part as citizens and vote; they might even hit the jackpot and win $1 million from Elon Musk. 

Vilda Westh Blanc is a staff writer for OTR and a sophomore in the SFS studying IPOL security. She is a citizen of France and Sweden but now resides in a small town outside Nashville, Tennessee.