Republicans, Democrats differ on Trump’s return
For Cindy Hilderbrand, former President Donald Trump’s return to the Butler Farm Show grounds feels like closure.
Hildebrand, who leads the United Republicans of Butler County, and local Republican leaders, are encouraged by Trump’s visit to the Butler Farm Show grounds on Saturday, Oct. 5, two months after a 20-year-old gunman opened fire on the former president, clipping his ear.
One rallygoer, Corey Comperatore, was killed. James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township and David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, were injured.
“I think it shows strength,” Hildebrand said about Saturday’s rally. “I think we needed to do this.”
She said she believes the community is ready for another Trump rally.
“(Rally-goers) are very happy, very excited for it,” she said. “I think they just want to be with each other to show unity and strength.”
Hilderbrand, who was present at the rally in July, said she feels reassured by the venue security this time. When asked how she is processing her return to the farm show grounds, she answered that preparations keep her busy, with over 200 volunteers offering their time to help.
Jim Hulings, who leads the Butler County Republican Committee, said he hopes to hear the rest of Trump’s speech on Saturday, which was cut short by the start of gunfire in July.
Hulings said the enthusiasm for Trump’s visit is still there, just different, and tinged by the loss of Comperatore, a former chief of Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company who died shielding his wife and daughter from gunfire.
“It's more of a memorial for Corey (Comperatore) than anything else, and I hope that's the case, and that’s the emphasis, because Corey lost his life,” he said.
While he had concerns about the venue last time, he said many “lessons were learned” about security since.
“I think the Secret Service certainly doesn't want to get another black eye,” Hulings said.
He said the significance of Trump’s return to the county is threefold. Besides memorializing Comperatore and those injured, and hearing Trump’s original speech, people will travel just to see Trump, he said.
“(Trump is) like a folk hero, and people are just so excited to see him,” Hulings said.
“You know, the cheer that went up after he stood up, and the chant USA, USA, USA … that kind of tells a story about Butler County people,” he said.
“Nobody ran away, even though the bullets were flying over our heads,” he said. “Everybody just stayed where they were.”
For Hulings, Trump embodies the values he said are critical for the country, and his return to Butler County reinforces them.
“The world needs a strong United States (of) high moral character, Christian beliefs,” he said. “And that’s Butler County. That says it about Butler County. Strong Christian beliefs, conservative beliefs, high moral standards.”
In semirural Butler County, 57% of voters are registered Republicans, according to state statistics. In the 2016 presidential election, Trump got 66.37% of the vote; in 2020, support dwindled, but only by a small amount, with Trump receiving 65.63% of votes in Butler County.
With the majority of the voter base in the region being Republican, Hulings believes the rally’s impact among local voters will be minimal, and expects most voters in the county to vote for Trump in November.
Catherine Lalonde, leader of the Butler County Democratic Committee, expressed concern about possible backlash against Democrats. Some Republicans, including Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-17th, have directly blamed Democrats for inciting the attempted assassination on July 13.
“We are concerned that there could be, at some point, violence (directed) toward us being in a minority,” Lalonde said.
Regardless of political affiliation, Lalonde said residents should be able to attend events and vocally support the candidate of their choice without fearing for their safety.
“The whole election and campaigning should be civil and safe,” she said.
“If we have a Democrat visit, we’d be happy — that’s how it works,” she said. “People want to see their presidential candidate.”
Lalonde also said she wanted a contract to be put in place with federal agencies leading the planning of rally security. A contract was not in place on July 13, and will not be in place on Saturday. County commissioner Kevin Boozel, a Democrat, continued to advocate for a contract as preparations for the second rally were underway.
Lalonde said she believes the rally, is taking place too soon after the attempted assassination, and puts pressure on county officials and local law enforcement.
She said she hopes all attendees will be safe on Saturday.
“We don’t want anyone being hurt or being ill from heat, anything like that,” Lalonde said.
“I feel very deeply saddened for the Comperatore family and the people who were injured,” she said. “I wish them all well — it’s very sad … it seemed like (Comperatore) was a very good man. It’s just tragic.”
