WASHINGTON — Former US President Donald Trump made a dramatic return to Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the site of a July assassination attempt where he was wounded in his right ear during a campaign rally.

Speaking to a crowd of 21,000 supporters, according to the New York Post, Trump delivered a message of resilience and determination.

"Tonight, I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and to the people of America," Trump told the rally.

"Our movement to make America great again stands stronger, prouder, more united, more determined, and nearer to victory than ever before."

The former president described the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old gunman who was killed by Secret Service agents, as a "vicious monster" who sought to silence him.

Trump recalled the harrowing moment of the attack: "For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper’s perch."

Trump also paid tribute to Corey Comperatore, a rally attendee who lost his life in the attack. "To Helen, and the entire Comperatore family, I can only begin to imagine the depths of your grief, but I want you to know that we will carry his memory in our hearts for as long as we live," Trump said before leading a minute of silence in his honor.

Trump’s return to Butler was attended by his vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, and tech billionaire Elon Musk, who endorsed Trump following the assassination attempt. Musk took the stage to rally support for Trump, warning that Democrats are threatening Americans' freedoms, including freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, and voting rights.

Musk urged the crowd to vote in the upcoming election, stating, "Get everyone you know and everyone you don't, drag them to vote... make sure they actually vote. If they don't, this will be the last election." — Agencies