I Was At Trump’s Rally When Shots Broke Out. Here’s What I Saw.

I am a Gen-Z Democrat who went to Trump’s rally to try to educate voters on the issues. Then all hell broke loose. This was my experience.

My weekend started off just like any other—brushing my teeth, ironing my clothes—but this time, it included a five-hour journey to Butler County, Pennsylvania. My destination was former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally, marking his first public appearance in over ten days. 

I didn’t go to the rally out of personal desire; my mission was to educate voters about the dangers of Project 2025.

My approach to this rally was to avoid appearing controversial or combative. Instead, I aimed to convey the risks of Project 2025 from the perspective of someone who far-right conservatives could trust—someone who appeared to be a fellow Trump-supporting Republican.

I believed that if I blended into the crowd and they thought I was one of them, they’d be more open to hearing my message. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, people often assume I’m a Republican anyway, despite being a proud and staunch Democrat. So, I donned my best and only camouflage hat and a black shirt with "freedom" emblazoned on the front, ready to engage and educate.

My initial instinct to dress as a conservative to appear more approachable paid off.

I had a handful of meaningful conversations, interspersed with exchanges with some rather peculiar characters who left me questioning their sanity. One person suggested that former First Lady Michelle Obama wasn’t running for president because “they have dirt on her,” leaving me puzzled about who “they” are—and if “they” could provide this individual with the sincere and much-needed therapy they clearly require. Upon entering Donald Trump’s rally, several things immediately caught my attention. 

First, the scent.

The air was thick with the rancid smell of body odor and marijuana—a humorous irony given the Republican Party's staunch opposition to legalizing marijuana, despite the overwhelming majority of voters supporting it.

The second thing that stood out was the overall atmosphere.

The location felt like an outdoor shopping mall, with booths lining the streets and every single person trying to make a quick buck off the other. Whatever you wanted—hats, food, signs, or even bedazzled teddy bears—everything was for sale, and everything was emblazoned with the “Trump” logo. For me, I wanted none of it.

The last thing I noticed was the crowd.

President Biden is known for his intimate gatherings at rallies, preferring smaller, more personal settings over massive stadiums. In fact, it was easier for me to secure a ticket to former President Trump’s rally than to get one for President Biden’s—despite, again, being a staunch and proud Democrat. That’s because Donald Trump is known for drawing outrageous crowds to his rallies. While history has shown us that large rallies don’t translate to winning an election, it's easy to see why the sight of so many people in one place can energize and excite voters—whether I agree with them politically or not.

After meeting with some of those voters, I decided to cool off in my car. It was a little over ninety degrees, and I couldn’t handle the heat for much longer—it had been a long day. I decided to call my mom; she wanted to see the rally. The only rallies we’ve attended together had been for Democrats, but she must have sensed that I needed her at that moment because she stayed on the phone with me for quite some time. 

We waited for the rally to begin. 

I contemplated leaving again and again, but something propelled me to re-enter the rally. With my mother on FaceTime, I gained my re-entry and explored the rally, showing her the absurdity and cult-like behavior displayed by Donald Trump’s supporters. Mothers were dressing their children up like the convicted felon, and men were saying the most outrageous things without a care in the world about who heard them.

The rally was beginning.

Former President Trump had just stepped on stage and within moments, delivered what might’ve been the most divisive speech I had ever heard in person. I wanted to mock him, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place. I had to keep reminding myself that I was undercover—people didn’t realize I was a Democrat. So, I remained silent to avoid any confrontation, as that wasn’t my goal for the day.

I decided it was time for me to go as I couldn't listen to anymore of his nonsense. I left my spot at the front of the audience and made my way to the back. As I walked, I took a video of people exiting the rally before it had concluded, finding it humorous that they too seemed disgusted or bored by Donald Trump’s remarks. In reality, they were lucky to have left early.

Just moments after this video was taken, the first shots were heard.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Former President Trump dropped to the ground.

I turned and ran in the opposite direction, away from the crowd. The scene was chaotic as men, women, and children let out the most horrifying shrieks I have ever heard. I saw elderly people struggling to evacuate, mothers shielding their children from being trampled, and fathers leaping to protect their loved ones. At the back of the crowd, it seemed that the gravity of the situation hadn't registered until another shot rang out. 

Pop.

The Secret Service sprang into action, quickly directing attendees to the exits. I kept running, along with the panicked people around me.

My heart ached for those on stage behind Donald Trump during his speech; they were practically trapped, surrounded by people on all sides and bars preventing them from moving. They couldn't duck or take cover. All they could do was sit there with their phones out, documenting the moment and praying that a bullet wouldn't find them.

In this moment, I wasn’t a Democrat, and they weren’t Republicans.

We were all Americans, trying to escape a horrifying scene that could have claimed the lives of any one of us—and it did, claiming the lives of two innocent bystanders. Donald Trump left with a grazed ear from a single bullet, and two families were left without their loved ones.

This event finds us at a crossroads between right and left. We now know the shooter who unleashed chaos at the rally was a registered Republican. His motive remains unclear, this is yet another sign that our country is doing something wrong.

House Republicans are doing something wrong.

It’s past time for Congress to act to prevent gun violence from further plaguing our communities—our homes. Pennsylvania is my home. Gun violence is reaching each of us at our doorsteps.

House Republicans must stop stalling and take action.

Now.

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