Donald Trump promises to use his return to Butler to celebrate the life of slain firefighter Corey Comperatore … and reveals his rally opening line

Donald Trump promised Tuesday to turn his return to the site of his attempted assassination into a celebration of the life of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who died after being struck by the gunman’s bullet. 

Trump will appear before supporters in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday.

‘It’s going to be a really big event, and it’s going to be something,’ Trump told reporters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ‘We’ll celebrate the life of Corey.’

Trump spoke for an hour-and-half on Tuesday evening, showing no sign of ceding the limelight to his running mate J.D. Vance as he prepared for his vice-presidential debate.

The former president held forth on the cost of living crisis, school choice and bloodshed in the Middle East.

He will watch the debate from his private jet as he returns from Wisconsin, one of this year’s key battlegrounds.

And he revealed the advice he had given the Ohio senator as he goes into battle on his behalf: ‘Have fun,’ he said he told him ahead of the televised showdown. 

But he gave no indication he was nervous about returning to the spot where a bullet grazed his ear. 

‘Butler has become quite a famous place,’ he said. It’s like a monument. 

‘Now people ride through the streets of Butler, looking at as though it were a monument.’

He said a GoFundMe appeal for Comperatore and other victims had raised $5million. Most had gone to his widow, but two other wounded supporters were also getting $1 million.

He said the event would be a chance to celebrate the emergency services, doctors and others who helped the wounded. 

‘There are a lot of talented people in our country, so that’ll be exciting,’ he said. 

‘And the question is, how am I going to start the speech? 

‘And I think I am going to say: “As I was saying,’ because that’s about where I was. I was very early.’

Trump has switched up his campaign schedule since he was wounded on July 13.

Most of his rallies have been held indoors since. Outdoors, he now appears behind a thick bulletproof screen. 

Trump is training his gaze on the swing state of Wisconsin in the hours ahead of Tuesday’s vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance and Gov. Tim Walz. 

In the evening he is due to address journalists at a museum in Milwaukee, the state’s biggest city. 

His remarks are expected to focus on the economy.

It marks a rapid return to Wisconsin. On Saturday he was in the west of the state, where he held Vice President Kamala Harris responsible for crimes committed by people who arrived in the country illegally. 

After a rally in Dane County during the day, he was in Milwaukee in the evening where he addressed journalists and a handful of well-connected supporters.

He revealed that he had spoken to media mogul Rupert Murdoch during the day, and the Fox News owner had offered advice on his campaign.