Billionaires Ken Griffith And Elon Musk Step Up Big To Donate $100,000 To Victims Of Trump Rally Shooting

On Saturday night, a Donald Trump rally took a deadly turn, and now some billionaires have stepped up and donated $100,000 to the victims of the shooting. Here are the billionaires offering their support to the victims. 

Former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was disrupted by eight rounds of bullets from a semiautomatic rifle. According to CBS News and other outlets, the bullet grazed the presidential hopeful, but there was one death and many other casualties. The gunman, who was fatally shot by a Secret Service sniper, was identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks. While Trump may have been the target of the attempted assassination, others ended up injured. 

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CNN reported that at least one person attending the rally lost their life, firefighter Corey Comperatore. According to CNN, Comperatore died protecting his family by diving to cover them from the spray of bullets. His widow, Helen Comperatore, told the New York Post, "He's my hero. He just said, ‘Get down!' That was the last thing he said." For the Comperatores and others, Saturday was supposed to be a "nice day with the family." In addition to Comperatore, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver were also injured. 

The Pennsylvania State Police released a press statement about the two victims who were hospitalized but are stable. Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris said, "These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today. The Pennsylvania State Police continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state, and local partners as this investigation continues." In honor of all the victims, U.S. and Commonwealth flags at all Commonwealth facilities, buildings, and grounds will be flown at half-staff. 

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Additional support has been pouring in for the victims from billionaires like tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and Kenneth C. Griffin. A GoFundMe, started by Meredith O’Rourke, Trump's finance person, has grown thanks to large donations from billionaires, organizations, and GOP notables. O'Rourke had initially set the goal of $1 million, but by Monday morning, that goal was met and continued to grow. By Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe had received more than 63,000 donations. 

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Musk donated $100,000 and officially endorsed Trump, writing on social media platform X, "I fully endorse President Donald Trump and hope for his rapid recovery." Griffin, the founder and CEO of hedge fund Citadel LLC, also donated $100,000. Former Florida governor Rick Scott and his wife donated $50,000. Other notable donations came from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which donated $50,000; its president, Dana White, also donated a further $50,000. The Heritage Foundation, Launchpad Strategies, Catherine Oxenberg, Stephen Wynn, Alex Brola and singer Kid Rock also made significant contributions.

More support has been pouring in for the victims of the shooting. An additional GoFundMe was created by a man who calls himself "a neighbor and friend" just for the Comperatore family. The initial goal was $7,000, and by Tuesday evening, it had reached a staggering $1.1 million. Trump also expressed his condolences and support to the grieving family. Helen Comperatore told the New York Post, "President Donald Trump called me to share his condolences. He was very kind and said he would continue to call me in the days and weeks ahead." 

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