Trump cashes in at scene of shooting

Donald Trump returned to the site of a campaign rally where an assassin's bullet grazed him in July, questioning whether his opponents were responsible and declaring he would "never quit."

"I return to Butler in the aftermath of tragedy and heartache to deliver a simple message to the people of Pennsylvania and America," he said. Our movement, he said, is "nearer to victory than ever before."

Billionaire Elon Musk, in a first campaign onstage appearance with Trump, said "this is the most important election of our lifetime. Trump must win to preserve the constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America."

Vice President Kamala Harris has chipped away at Trump's lead in several battleground states, according to a latest poll. The race is a dead heat with neither candidate showing a clear advantage heading into Election Day on November 5.

"If we win Pennsylvania, we will win the whole thing," Trump said.

The rally amounted to a pilgrimage for some of Trump's most ardent allies and fans. Dozens of lawmakers and prominent attended.

John Paulson, the hedge-fund billionaire, said that "when Trumpis elected president, he will deliver the greatest economic boom to America that we've ever seen."

For Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX boss who is the world's richest man, it's his most prominent moment yet as part of a political campaign. After years of keeping a low political profile, he has emerged in the this election as a key Trump supporter.

Musk has been a favorite talking point of Trump's in recent days as the former president praised the deployment of SpaceX's Starlink equipment to help restore communications in US towns ravaged by Hurricane Helene.

Musk was joined by billionaire Bill Ackman amid support for Trump after the attack, which killed one attendee and left two wounded.

Musk has been offered a role in Trump's next administration and the idea of a Cabinet position for him has been floated if Trump wins.

BLOOMBERG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE