featured-image

Secret Service agents cover former president Trump. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) BUTLER, Pa. - The gunshots were high-pitched pops, slight and hollow in the open air.

Donald Trump, the former president set to accept the Republican nomination in five days, was less than 10 minutes into his speech here to a crowd of tens of thousands. A miles-long line of cars crawled for hours to pass through metal detectors and bag inspections, just like any Trump event, until these green fairgrounds became a sea of red hats. Trump was almost an hour late, and his supporters waited impatiently under the blazing sun and thumping music.



In the middle of the crowd, opposite the stage, a platform of TV cameras pointed at the podium, with reporters huddled underneath for shade. Finally Trump walked out, as usual, to chants of “USA” and marveled: “This is a big crowd. This is a big, big, beautiful crowd.

” A bright red MAGA cap shaded his eyes, and his white shirt was open-collared in the heat as he leaned his arms on the lectern. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) A crowd waits for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump to speak at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) He launched into his stump speech but quickly got bored with the prepared script. He offered to invite the Republican .

Back to Beauty Page