Former President Donald Trump was back in Western Pennsylvania for the first time since an assassination attempt injured him last month in Butler County, and he is hoping his visit will rally his MAGA base to boost him to a Pennsylvania and national victory come November.
Trump took the stage at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown around 4:45 p.m. to a large standing ovation.
The first part of his speech was a bit meandering, but focusing on punishment and urgency. He advocated for establishing a one-year prison sentence for anyone who burns an American flag and a death sentence for any drug dealer.
Trump said the 2024 election was a high-stakes election, and that his opponent Kamala Harris would destroy Pennsylvania if she was elected.
“If we don’t do it this time, we are never going to have another crack it,” Trump said.
Trump finishes speech with call to “Make America Great Again”: 6:18 p.m.
The former president ended his Johnstown speech around 6:18 p.m.
He spoke for about 90 minutes.
Trump says he’d seal border, slash taxes, pay for IVF, bolster manufacturing: 6:15 p.m.
After speaking for over an hour to a crowd in Johnstown, Trump’s speech focused on the goals he would prioritize if elected in November.
“Starting on day one, I will seal the border,” he said. “We will halt the invasion and deport the illegals.”
He vowed to cut consumer energy bills in half, improve American energy production and make the nation a more affordable place to live.
He suggested implementing a 200% tariff on cars manufactured in foreign countries.
The former president said he would turn the nation into “a manufacturing superpower very quickly,” strengthen the military, build a missile defense shield around the country, support police and cut regulations that started under the Biden administration.
Trump also promised that the government would pay for IVF fertility treatments, or force insurance companies to do so.
“We want more babies to be born in America,” he said.
He also claimed to keep critical race theory out of schools, defend the Second Amendment, bar transgender athletes from women’s sports and protect social security.
Trump further claimed he would end wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
McCormick takes stage: 6 p.m.
The former president voiced his support David McCormick, who is looking to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.
McCormick took the stage briefly to laud the former president. He was the Butler rally on July 13 when a gunman shot at Trump and a bullet grazed his ear. McCormick recalled watching Trump’s reaction after the shooting.
“I saw strength when you said, ‘fight, fight, fight,’” McCormick told Trump, referring to the words the former president uttered before exiting the Butler stage.
Trump earlier in his speech referenced a moment at the Butler rally when two flags were blown in the wind to form a shape some have said resembled an angel.
“A perfect angel was formed,” Trump said.
Trump touts energy-friendly policies: 5:55 p.m.
Trump’s speech included many nods to the energy industry. He painted himself as an advocate for energy jobs, and Harris as a danger to the industry.
“Drill, baby, drill,” he told cheering crowds, before claiming Harris would force people to buy electric vehicles.
Trump also touted his ability to work with world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“We want to get rid of mail-in voting,” Trump says: 5:31 p.m.
Trump said he wants to abolish mail-in voting, move to only paper ballots and require citizenship papers and voter identification.
This comes despite messaging shared with rally goers earlier Thursday encouraging them to vote by mail.
Attendees removed from Trump rally: 5:26 p.m.
Two rally goers were apprehended at the Trump rally in Johnstown around 5:26 p.m.
LIVE: An attendee has been apprehended at the Trump rally here in Johnstown @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/hAzwTnEBSD
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
Law enforcement handcuffed and removed two people from the rally.
One man appeared to try and climb into the media section of the arena. The Associated Press reported that officers used a Taser to subdue one of the men.
Thought he'd try a little something
Trump Rally Johnstown PA@Timcast @ScottPresler @Brick_Suit pic.twitter.com/E3IUN0ObHa
— American Woman (@massimo_dane) August 30, 2024
Trump says Harris is “anti-everything that’s Pennsylvania”: 5:25 p.m.
The former president said he felt Vice President Kamala Harris had no right to run for president, because voters didn’t select her in the primary race.
“She’s unfit to serve,” he said. “Everything she touches, she ruins.”
The Harris campaign in July said she would not ban fracking, reversing a past pledge to do so. On Thursday, Trump said she was anti-fracking.
“She’s anti-everything that’s Pennsylvania,” Trump said, before showing a video reel of Harris, which was met by boos and jeers from the crowd.
Trump predicted he’d win Pennsylvania, and said doing so would win him the election.
He portrayed Harris as a “radical” and repeatedly railed against news media who he blamed for helping Harris and unfairly criticizing him.
Trump says families asked him to visit Arlington with them: 5:15 p.m.
Trump referenced the 13 American service members who were killed in a 2021 suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. He criticized President Joe Biden’s administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
He told the Johnstown rally-goers that he got to know the victims’ families. The victims, he said, invited him to Arlington National Cemetery, where his campaign got into an altercation with cemetery staffers during a wreath-laying ceremony this week.
Cemetery officials said they warned the Trump campaign not to take photographs at the cemetery. Trump said he wasn’t doing it for publicity.
Trump said he spent hours with the families during his trip.
“The whole thing was beautiful,” he said, adding he heard later in the day that he was accused of using the graves for public relations purposes.
That narrative, Trump claimed, was propagated by the White House.
Trump pinned the service members’ deaths on Biden.
“The incompetence killed their children,” he said.
Trump says he could have filled arena three times: 4:56 p.m.
Trump touted the size of the crowd filling the Johnstown arena Thursday.
“Why didn’t you get a larger arena?” he joked.
In the first moments of his speech, the former president said he wanted to implement a one-year jail sentence for anyone who burns the American flag and suggested implementing the death penalty for drug dealers.
He is not behind any additional bullet proof glass during the indoor rally.
No bulletproof glass in front of Trump for the Johnstown rally here in Pennsylvania @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/OKtdTtSNsW
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
Trump vows to win Pennsylvania: 4:48 p.m.
“I love this place,” Former President Donald Trump said after taking the stage to cheers of “USA.”
“Sixty-seven days from now, we’re going to win Pennsylvania,” he said. “We’re going to defeat Comrade Kamala Harris.”
LIVE: @realDonaldTrump has taken the stage and is addressing the crowd here in Johnstown, Pennsylvania for his rally @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/JNlrFyhfNk
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
“We’re going to win back the White House,” he said. “We’re going to make this country greater than it’s ever been.”
In the first moments of his speech, Trump pointed out the news media in attendance at the rally. The crowd booed as Trump said there was a “lot of fake news.”
He also touted recent endorsem*nts from Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Trump takes stage in Johnstown: 4:44 p.m.
Former President Donald Trump took the stage in Johnstown around 4:44 p.m.
This marks his first stop in Western Pennsylvania since a gunman opened fire on his July 13 rally in Butler, grazing Trump’s ear, seriously injuring two rally goers and killing Corey Comperatore, 50, of Butler Township.
Trump will address a packed crowd at 1st Summit Arena, where supporters are dawning red, white and blue and waving signs supporting the former president.
Some Trump rally goers to watch speech on outside monitor: 4:30 p.m.
Those waiting in line to attend the Trump rally were told shortly after 4 p.m. that the arena was full but they could watch on an outside monitor.
John Krstyen, 40, and Jackie Wiebley, 47, both of Altoona, were among those who took up the offer.
A committed Trump supporter, Krstyen came to the rally after ending a 12-hour shift as a truck driver and was anticipating a return to work at 1 a.m. He said he is concerned about job losses in the oil and gas and rail industries and at a paper mill. He said he’s looking for things to turn around under a second Trump administration.
Inside the crowded venue, Shawn Ashmore was gearing up for his first Trump rally. He said he technically wasn’t supposed to attend because of an injury, but he did anyway.
He works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and he recently fractured his ankle.
“As long as my foot’s resting,” said Ashmore, 55, of Apollo, who was sitting down in anticipation of Trump’s arrival. “(I’m) not supposed to put any weight on it.”
As a Trump supporter, he said he believes Trump did a “good job” in his previous term. He plans on voting for him in November and hope Trump pulls through with a win.
“I’m a Republican fan period — never voted Democrat,” said Ashmore, a disabled veteran.
He was originally supposed to go to the Butler rally where Trump was injured but ended up not being able to go due to work. After the attempted assassination, Ashmore said he was “shell-shocked.”
So far, Ashmore said the people at Thursday’s Trump rally have been “amazing.”
“It’s a good time,” he said. “We all believe in the same thing.”
More Trump supporters entering arena: 3:45 p.m.
Additional supporters were moved through the security screening and permitted into the arena around 3:45 p.m.
More chairs had be set up on the arena floor after the venue had filled to capacity ahead of Trump’s speech.
Trump supporters still lined up outside as arena fills: 3:25 p.m.
Some Trump supporters were still waiting outside of the arena, hoping to get in around 3:25 p.m.
Security guards at the entrance were not allowing more people inside the crowded venue.
The 1st Summit Arena was filled to capacity as of 3:30 p.m., according to Azera Varner, an usher.
“Secret Service said ‘no’ because they want everybody in a seat,” she said.
Crews seemed to be adding additional chairs to the floor, as more supporters were waiting outside.
Here’s what the security looks like at the entrance of 1st Summit Arena here in Johnstown for the Trump rally.
As you can see, there are still supporters lined up outside hoping to get in @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/mRZrmUxVUI
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
Among supporters milling outside was Michelle Wilt, a Bedford native now living in Mt. Savage, Md. She brought her sons Logan and Adam to the Johnstown rally Thursday.
Wilt said she blamed the Biden administration for the fact her husband’s company was outsourced to Mexico. He went to Alabama for a sheet metal job, Wilt said.
Speakers talk natural gas, mail-in voting ahead of Trump appearance: 3 p.m.
Speakers addressing a packed crowd gathered at 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown discussed topics like natural gas and mail-in voting ahead of the former president’s speech.
The arena was full by around 3 p.m., with about 5,000 attendees packing the bleachers and floor seats.
The latest live look at the @realDonaldTrump rally here in Johnstown’s 1st Summit Arena:
We’re under two hours away from Trump’s scheduled speaking time @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/FCnjdtS6u5
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
Mark Casket, CEO of fracking company Steel Nation, attacked President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for shutting down the Keystone Pipeline. He said the pair are hurting the natural gas industry, though 2022 and 2023 were record-breaking years for domestic natural gas production.
Carla Sands, Trump’s ambassador to Denmark and a former Pennsylvania Senate candidate, told supporters that Democrats have applied for half a million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. She was greeted by loud boos.
Sands them encouraged the crowd to vote by mail to catch up with Democrats, receiving some applause.
Speeches begin ahead of Trump appearance: 2:30 p.m.
Speeches started around 2:30 p.m., ahead of Trump’s appearance later this afternoon.
Local Democratic state Rep. Frank Burns, considered among the most conservative Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was called a “far left Democrat” in one of the first speeches of the day.
Speeches have started. Local Dem state Rep Frank Burns, arguably the most conservative Democrat in the PA state house, was just called a “far left Democrat” pic.twitter.com/yisaPf2w3L
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) August 30, 2024
The event started with the Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem.
The arena was filling up as the event started, with the floor and about half of the arena bleachers full about two hours before Trump was scheduled to speak.
Meanwhile, some protesters continued to voice opposition outside the venue.
Faylinn Hill, of Johnstown, was among the protestors. The president of AFSCME local in Davidsville, Hall claimed Trump wants to abolish the Department of Labor and destroy labor unions’ ability to negotiate.
Video boards in arena encourage mail-in voting: 2:10 p.m.
Despite Trump’s mixed messages about mail-in voting, video boards in the arena encouraged people to vote by mail.
Many Republicans have been hesitant to vote by mail, with some conservatives believing it is less secure than voting in person and falsely claiming that it leads to massive voter fraud. In Pennsylvania, Democrats vote by mail at significantly larger rates than Republicans.
Trump has given mixed messages about mail-in voting. In January in Iowa, he advocated for eliminating mail-in voting and said it led to “crooked elections.” He has since softened that stance, and is now encouraging Republicans to vote by mail.
At the Johnstown rally, the Trump campaign acknowledged the distrust many Republicans still hold towards mail-in voting. Video messages at the arena used MAGA-friendly rhetoric to encourage large enough voter turnout so the race between his rival Vice President Kamala Harris won’t be so close. Video boards displayed messages like “Swamp the Vote” and “Too Big to Rig.”
“We must swamp the radical Democrats with enough turnout,” Trump said in a video broadcasted to rally goers inside the arena. “If we swamp them, then they can’t rig the election.”
Video played for Johnstown crowd pushing Republicans to mail in vote to “swamp the vote” and get to margin that’s “too big to rig.” Trump and Republicans are really pushing mail in voting at this rally, but in MAGA-friendly terms and still hinting (falsely) that Dems are cheating pic.twitter.com/s4oxBFLQ2o
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) August 30, 2024
Rally-goers voice support for Trump: 2 p.m.
Trump supporters descending on 1st Summit Arena hours before the former president is set to take the stage told TribLive they were eager to support their candidate.
Thursday’s event marked the first Trump rally for Linda Ooghe, 76, of Richland.
She said she’s always wanted to go to one.
“I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to be here,” she said. “I’m like a little kid.”
Despite the Johnstown rally being Trump’s first appearance since the attempted assassination in Butler County, Ooghe said she’s not nervous to be attending.
“That was terrible… my heart just went out to him,” she said. “I like everything he does — everything about him.”
Kayla Hiner, 35, of Unity Township brought her two-year-old daughter, Navy, to the rally. Hiner’s grandmother was there, too.
Hiner said she felt Trump was the best choice for her daughter’s future.
Kayla Hiner, 35, of Unity Township grew up in Johnstown and decided to bring her daughter, Navy, 2, to Donald Trump’s rally Friday in her old home town. Hiner’s grandmother also was in attendance.Hiner said Trump is the best choice to ensure her daughter’s future. pic.twitter.com/mEtSZbBxYY
— Jeff Himler (@jhimler_news) August 30, 2024
William Dutil, 54, of Gallitzin, an independent Trump vendor, said he usually sets up shop at any rally within a 200-mile radius.
Dutil, who owns his own fireworks business, sells Trump merchandise to make extra cash during the offseason.
“I’m getting a late start this year,” he said, but pricing for merchandise is usually higher at big events.
He also has a stand that he sells merchandise from in Altoona that will be operational until the election.
This year, Dutil said, for the first time, he went to a trade show in Las Vegas — specifically to buy Trump-themed merchandise items.
“I wanted stuff that everybody else didn’t have and also the latest stuff out,” he said.
Donning a red, white and blue Trump shirt, he told TribLive he plans on voting for Trump this fall and has voted for him previously.
“Trump knows what needs to be done as far as to make the economy strong,” he said. “The last time he was in, I thrived.”
He said he hopes Trump wins this fall, as he didn’t feel good about Joe Biden or now, Kamala Harris as options on the ballot.
“Right now, it’s an up in the air thing,” Dutil said of the election outcome.
Dutil said he’s not nervous — “not at all” to be near the rally, even despite the assassination attempt last time Trump was in Western Pennsylvania.
“It’s not something to be expected,” Dutil said of the incident. “I don’t think it was a conspiracy or anything — I think he was just a sick individual.”
Made it inside the 1st Summit Arena, where @realDonaldTrump’s rally will take place this afternoon.
Here’s a 360-degree live look @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/Zle3rZnrNO
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
First supporters filter into 1st Summit Arena ahead of Trump speech: 12:30 p.m.
The first supporters began to trickle into 1st Summit Arena by around 12:30 p.m.
The arena holds 4,000 on the bleachers, and about 1,000 more chairs were set up on the floor.
Inside 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, an idea of the size of the local hockey arena. It holds 4,000 in the bleachers and there are another about 1,000 chairs on the floor. The first supporters are filtering in now. pic.twitter.com/ubMd6UHuWM
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) August 30, 2024
Officials closed about three blocks around the arena for vehicle traffic. The Secret Service are checking bags and asking people to take things out of their pockets as people enter the venue. People also have to go through metal detectors to enter.
So far, there is no additional protective glass around the podium where Trump will speak. Extra bulletproof glass had been set up around the former president when he spoke at a recent outdoor rally.
Supporters of former President Trump are beginning to trickle into the Johnstown War Memorial arena for remarks later today @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/glqhd0mLV2
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) August 30, 2024
Protesters join the crowd in Johnstown: 12:09 p.m.
A small group of protesters gathered outside of the venue, holding signs with messages like “Veterans against Trump” and “Dump Trump.”
Though Cambria County is a Republican stronghold, the city of Johnstown often elects Democrats for local offices.
There is a small group of counter protesters here too in Johnstown. Cambria County is red as can be, but the city of Johnstown is purple and typically elects Democrats to local offices pic.twitter.com/9fuo9PcHkq
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) August 30, 2024
Crowds begin to gather ahead of Trump speech: 12:00 p.m.
By noon, crowds had already started to gather outside of the arena.
Throngs of supporters carried flags and life-sized cardboard cutouts.
A live look at the line for former President @realDonaldTrump’s rally in Johnstown, PA @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/C7SRVY3fFc
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
The line was already wrapping around the arena before noon. Tents lined the roads leading up to the arena, selling hats, tee shirts, flags, sweatpants, mugs, Trump bobbleheads and other wares.
The line wraps around the 1st Summit Arena here in Johnstown for the Trump rally @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/q4tFlJjAUo
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
An RV decked with Trump flags and signs sat outside the area.
The cardboard cutouts of @realDonaldTrump are out in full force as well ahead of the rally in Johnstown @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/dEtsuj4kNZ
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
This RV is completely decked out in @realDonaldTrump gear @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/hUvlkfJJlH
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) August 30, 2024
Trump is likely to attack his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, on her changing stances concerning the U.S. border and fracking, a key issue in the Greater Pittsburgh region, according to a news release from his campaign.
“A Trump-Vance administration will Make America Great Again by unleashing American drilling to halve energy costs, halting the migrant invasion on our southern border, and restoring America’s rightful standing and respect on the world stage,” the Trump campaign said.
The Johnstown area, about 70 miles east of Pittsburgh, is one of Trump’s strongholds in Pennsylvania. Cambria County, home to Johnstown, went emphatically Republican in 2020, with Trump getting 68% of the vote compared with President Joe Biden’s 31%.
Trump’s visit comes as polling shows a virtual dead heat with Harris among Pennsylvania voters.
It has been eight weeks since the Trump rally shooting July 13 in Butler. Trump was grazed by a bullet that clipped his ear. Corey Comperatore, 50, of Buffalo Township was killed and two men were injured in the shooting. A Secret Service sniper killed the shooter, Thomas Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park.
Security has since increased at Trump campaign events, and Trump spoke in front of a bulletproof glass barrier at his most recent outdoor rally in North Carolina.
The Johnstown rally will be indoors, in an arena that houses the city’s junior hockey franchise.
While Trump is hoping to enthuse his supporters, Democrats are also preparing counterattacks.
The Democratic National Committee is placing four billboards throughout Johnstown that criticize Trump’s tariff proposals and claiming his tariffs will result in an additional $3,900 in annual costs for American families.
“Donald Trump’s tax scam was a disaster for working Pennsylvanians. As president, he gave handouts to his wealthy friends at the expense of middle-class families,” said DNC Spokesperson Addy Toevs. “If he reaches the White House again, he’ll double down on those policies and force the average family to pay thousands more in taxes.”
Harris will visit the Pittsburgh area on Labor Day with President Joe Biden.
Both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have been barnstorming Pennsylvania recently, with multiple trips each within the last two weeks.
Pennsylvania is a key swing state with 19 Electoral College votes and many political prognosticators predicting it will be the tipping point in the November election.
