Trump to campaign at Butler Farm Show
News that former President Donald Trump planned to visit Butler County on July 13 spurred the sending of hundreds of emails from the Butler County Republican Committee.
James Hulings, chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee, said Thursday, July 4, he was alerted to the presidential candidate’s visit on Wednesday, and he immediately began preparing the community for the campaign event. While Trump’s campaign is organizing the visit, Hulings said he and other Republican officials are aiding in its promotion and coordinating staff to help work the event.
“This all happened yesterday early in the afternoon,” Hulings said. “We’re still getting our feet on the ground, organizing. They’re looking for volunteers to work traffic and seating and ushers, just all kinds of people.”
Trump’s rally in Butler County comes just days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at the Butler Farm Show grounds, 625 Evans City Road in Connoquenessing Township. The event will “emphasize the horrendous effects Biden’s dishonest presidency has had on our country,” according to a statement from the campaign.
Trump’s last visit to Butler County was in October 2020, when he had a rally at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
At his last visit, Trump arrived via helicopter at the airport at 6:20 p.m., but his supporters began arriving as early as 1 p.m. at several designated farms and fields in the area, where school buses were parked to shuttle them to the event.
Hulings said doors to the rally will open at 1 p.m., and people looking to attend should be aware of the traffic and crowds expected.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe said Thursday his office has been in touch with rally organizers, but he is unsure of how his department will be involved. Slupe said the sheriff’s department helped with security at the 2020 rally, when several officers aided with security.
“We were in charge of the interior perimeter, and we had enough to have people on the outside as well,” Slupe said.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, said he was happy to welcome Trump back into Butler County.
“I’m incredibly excited to welcome President Trump back to Butler,” Kelly said in a written statement. “This election is a tale of two presidents and two very different visions for our great nation. Butler County is Trump country.”
Hulings said, although he didn’t attend Trump’s last rally in Butler County, he watched video of it online, where the excitement of the crowd was evident.
Hulings also said excitement is already growing within the community for this visit. He said the county is “lucky” to see another visit from Trump.
“I’ve been to a few of these; you do have to get there early,” Hulings said. “We are so lucky that he’s coming. We were totally surprised, amazed, thankful this is happening.”
Tickets are available on the campaign website, donaldjtrump.com.
