By Axios | Created at 2024-10-04 04:54:40 | Updated at 2024-10-04 07:33:01
2 hours ago
Elon Musk plans to attend former President Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the billionaire announced in a post on X late Thursday.
Why it matters: Trump's return to the scene of the first assassination attempt against his life occurred had already raised concerns among local officials, per Axios Philadelphia's Isaac Avilucea.
- The U.S. Secret Service bolstered Trump's security in the wake of the shooting that killed one rally-goer, wounded two others and saw a bullet strike the Republican presidential nominee's right ear.
- Trump was targeted in a second assassination attempt last month.
Driving the news: "I will be there to support!" Musk wrote just before midnight in a retweet of Trump's post promoting the rally that called Saturday's event "HISTORIC!"
The big picture: The July shooting resulted in Kimberly Cheatle resigning as Secret Service director and the agency has since faced months of scrutiny, with a preliminary bipartisan Senate report finding planning failures preceding the shooting were "foreseeable" and "preventable."
- USSS spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the agency had "made comprehensive changes and enhancements to our communications capabilities, resourcing, and protective operations" since then, per WTAE-TV.
- Guglielmi said the USSS was working closely with Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement in and around the city ahead of Trump's return to the Butler Farm Show site.
- "We are also leveraging other federal security resources to expand personnel and technology," he added.
- Additional security precautions since the first assassination attempt include Trump appearing behind bulletproof glass while onstage during outdoor rallies.
Go deeper: Trump rally moved indoors following security concerns
Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
