JD Vance calls for unity, attacks Democrats at Trump Butler rally
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance called for national unity at a rally at the Butler Farm Show on Saturday, Oct. 5 while also accusing Democrats of responsibility for the July 13 assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“First, they're trying to silence him (Trump),” Vance said in his speech prior to Trump’s appearance. “That didn't work. They tried to bankrupt him. That didn't work. They tried to jail him.
“With all the hatred they spewed at President Trump, it was only a matter of time before somebody tried to kill him.”
Before that comment, Vance stressed a need for unity.
“We hoped that our opponents would remember that before we are Democrats or before we are Republicans, we are Americans,” Vance said. “But sadly, our opponents have not heeded Abraham Lincoln's words and listened to the better angels of our nature. Even after that terrible assassination attempt that took one man's life and nearly took many others, they continued to use dangerous inflammatory rhetoric.”
John Keck, of Penn Township, touched upon Vance’s point when asked about his thoughts.
“A day later, after the first assassination attempt, they were getting on him and calling him Hitler and all that stuff again,” Keck said. “That’s going to fire some people up.”
“I do think, at the top of the other side, we need to be careful with what we say,” said Tom Molenda, of the Wexford area. “People can say that about Trump at times, as well. Certainly we have to be careful because people can be affected. Nobody needs to die.”
Vance said that the media continues to call Trump a threat to democracy. He also said that opposing presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris is quoted as saying Trump is attacking the foundation of the country’s government.
“I think you all will join me and say to Kamala Harris, ‘How dare you talk about threats to democracy? Donald Trump took a bullet for democracy,’” Vance said.
The passionate crowd then broke into chants of “U-S-A,” before Vance said, “The truth is the Kamala Harris and her allies, they attacked Donald Trump in order to silence us, we the people.”
Vance later said that Trump is the missing puzzle piece to improving the country.
“All we need to restore American greatness is leadership that is fit to serve this country,” Vance said. “So more than anything, I'd like all of us to leave this incredible community with a message of hope, because I honestly believe that what happened right here at Butler is a better (representation) of the United States of America.
“As long as that flag yet waves — as I see it's doing today — there is no trial we cannot endure, no obstacle we cannot overcome and no defeat we cannot turn into victory.”
