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The former president’s return to Butler, Pennsylvania included a stirring tribute to Corey Comperatore following a recount of the “16 harrowing seconds” that made him a “folk hero.”

Saturday, 12 weeks to the day from when a would-be assassin opened fire on former President Donald Trump and his supporters, the GOP leader returned to the stage. With a moment of levity preceding somber reflection, the president looked to the graphic that had caused him to turn his head and avoid a direct hit, and told the crowd, “As I was saying.”

From there, Trump took the time to honor the first responders, the U.S. Secret Service agents and the victims who had been wounded in the gunfire, James Copenhaver and David Dutch, before paying special tribute to the fallen firefighter and father, Corey Comperatore.

“Of course, there’s one more hero who could not make it back here tonight because he is no longer with us,” said the president as the victim’s bunker gear was displayed in memoriam in the stands, “and we all miss him. He’s become somewhat of a folk hero!”

Helen Comperatore and her daughters Allyson and Kaylee were among those who’d returned to the fairgrounds and Trump sought them out in the crowd before continuing his speech.

“Thank you very much…Great family. Great, incredible family. And he loved you a lot and you know his wife said something very beautiful,” explained Trump. “The public — a lot of people, all of us, a lot of people have been very generous [to her]. And she said I’d rather have my husband. That’s a good thing to say. That’s a good thing to say. I’d rather have my husband.”

“Corey Comperatore was an incredible husband and father, a devout Christian, a veteran, and a proud former fire chief, very respected within the town. Everybody knew him,” he continued. “Few men volunteered to run into fires, but Corey was one of those who did. He ran into fires. I spoke to people that were with — this guy would do anything. He was brave, right? Brave guy and he was also a protector who put his life on the line for others. And he loved doing it.”

“And when the sound of gunshots pierced the air on that July evening, Corey leapt into the fire one more time and his last seconds on this earth, he threw himself on the top of his wife and daughters. He didn’t want them hurt. He threw himself. He knew what was happening. He didn’t want them hurt and he was hit hard. He was hit hard and he gave his life to shield their lives,” recalled Trump.

The tribute to the firefighter included a special painting from artist Scott LoBaido and a performance of “Ave Maria” by acclaimed tenor Christopher Macchio as the president stopped his speech at 6:11 p.m., 12 weeks to the minute from when shots were fired, for a moment of silence.

As was stated above, Trump had kicked off the rally with his eyes to the immigration chart that he’d been looking at when the would-be assassin’s bullet struck his ear and had gone on to say, “Oh, I love that chart. I love that graph. Isn’t it a beautiful thing?”

“Our movement, it belongs to you. It belongs to our country. It belongs to our country. And together, in just one month, we are going to usher in a new golden age of American security, prosperity, sovereignty, and freedom for our citizens of every race, religion, color and creed … on this very ground, a cold-blooded assassin aimed to silence me and to silence the greatest movement, MAGA, in the history of our country,” he said. “MAGA. We love MAGA.”

“For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper’s perch, not so far away. But by the hand of providence and the grace of God that villain did not succeed in his goal, did not come close, he did not stop our movement. He did not break our spirit. He did not shake our unyielding resolve to save America from the evils of poverty, hatred and destruction.”

Before the crowd dispersed, Macchio graced attendees once more with a performance of “God Bless America.”

Kevin Haggerty
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