Butler County, Pennsylvania, remains a stronghold of support for former President Donald Trump. Billboards with pro-Trump messages, such as “Bulletproof” and “Even my dog hates Biden,” are scattered across the area, reflecting the community’s unwavering loyalty.
In both the 2016 and 2020 elections, Trump garnered double the votes of his Democratic opponents, and Butler County has rarely voted Democrat in its 150-year history. Known as the home of the American Jeep, the county now carries the weight of a darker event—an assassination attempt on Trump that occurred on July 13, when a bullet grazed his ear during a public event.
As Trump prepares to return to the Farm Show grounds for a rally, the community reflects on the near-tragedy. Local Republicans feel sadness, guilt, and anger that such an incident occurred in their staunchly pro-Trump county.
Jim Hulings, chairman of the Butler County Republican Party, who was just 30 feet away at the time, expressed shock and devastation, believing Trump had been killed. Jondavid Longo, mayor of nearby Slippery Rock, who was on stage during the incident, described using his body to shield his pregnant wife. He still replays the scene in his mind, grappling with the guilt of knowing that while Trump survived, another person lost their life and two others were seriously injured.
