Trump returns to Butler, Pennsylvania. Almost 3 months after the attack: NPR

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show grounds in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

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Evan Vucci/AP

The July 13 attempt on former President Donald Trump's life was a recurring theme at a Trump campaign rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump returned to speak at the grounds of the Butler Farm Show in the small Pennsylvania town – the site where a gunman's bullets grazed the Republican presidential candidate's ear nearly three months ago, killing one rally attendee and wounding two others.

“Exactly 12 weeks ago this evening, on this very same site, a cold-blooded assassin sought to silence me and the greatest movement, MAGA, in the history of our country,” Trump said in one of his many allusions to his near-death experience. “But by the hand of providence and the grace of God, this villain did not succeed in achieving his goal, he did not come close to it. He didn't stop our movement, he didn't break our spirit. It did not shake our unyielding resolve.” Save America from the evils of poverty, hatred and destruction.

Speaking behind transparent screens due to increased security, Trump honored Corey Comperatore – the man who was fatally shot during Trump's rally in July – with a moment of silence. Bells rang and tenor Christopher Macchio sang Franz Schubert's “Ave Maria,” a piece often performed at funerals. Trump also thanked the Secret Service team and medical professionals who came to his aid.

Crowds waited for hours in the Pennsylvania sunshine to hear Trump's speech. Their cries of “Fight! Battle! Fight!” underlined what was happening on stage.

Other speakers at the event also referenced the July 13 shooting.

Eric Trump apparently blamed his father's political opponents for the attack: “They tried to kill him,” said Trump's son. “And that’s because the Democratic Party can’t do anything right.”

Elon Musk focused on Trump's bravery: “The true test of a person's character is how they behave under fire,” the billionaire entrepreneur said. “We had a president who couldn’t climb the stairs and another who flailed after being shot.”

Beyond references to the July shooting, Trump's speech focused on many of his usual talking points, including ending illegal immigration and the importance of fossil fuels to the U.S. economy (“We're going to drill, baby, drill!”). and his plan to make the country a “manufacturing superpower” again.

He also twice reiterated his plan to “keep men out of women’s sports,” saying it was “so demeaning to women.”