I think this was a historic rally—not just for Trump, but for America, and for history. There were so many truly moving moments—a whole day of speakers including J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, Lara and Eric Trump, and of course Trump—who was truly humble today, and very caring and sympathetic to the man who was killed here 12 weeks ago, and the two men who were injured.

At precisely 6:11, exactly the time Trump was shot here in July, there was a long moment of silence. I think everyone was praying—not just for the man who died in the stands, but for the people still missing down South, for those still waiting for help. And people were praying for our country, and for their children’s future, and for the world their grandchildren will one day face.

There was a famous opera singer belting out songs on stage, which made the moments even more poignant. Ava Maria…we were reminded that no matter what happens there is still beauty in something as simple as a song.

It was a beautiful blue day in Butler. If we blinked, we might have believed we were at a county fair, maybe 30 or 40 years ago, when our individual worlds still seemed right side up, when we were united in our belief that democracy was just and right, when kids still played outside, when we believed one day there could be peace everywhere. That was the goal, anyway. Those are the songs we sang at camp as kids, Kumbaya, and Let There Be Peace On Earth.

Elon Musk talked about the importance of the freedom of speech and how it is a cornerstone to our freedom and our way of life. Even as John Kerry yesterday railed against it.

So many in the crowd were there for the first rally—the day Trump was shot. And they came back again. They came back again and stood in the same field and wore the same red, white, and blue shirts and Trump looked at them and said, “We’ve been through so much together.”

We have all been through a lot. But today was a day in Butler to not only morn those things, but to conjure up pockets of hope for the future. We all stood there together and did that—celebrated what we were and what we can be again.

We just need to come together. Not for Trump’s sake—this isn’t about a candidate winning. This is about something deeper and much more important. This is about who we are as a people, as a country. It’s about a direction. And it’s about loving ourselves again, and believing we have the power to fix things.

It was an amazing day, but the hardest days are still ahead of us. Today was just a lovely reprieve.