Trump Honors Jim Copenhaver, Butler Rally Hero: ‘True American Patriot’

President Donald Trump has honored James “Jim” Copenhaver, the 76-year-old patriot who lost his life this week from wounds sustained at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally attack in July 2024.

Copenhaver, who was shot twice while attending Trump’s campaign rally, had been fighting ongoing complications from bullet fragments that remained in his abdomen for more than two years.

“Jim Copenhaver, a true American Patriot, has passed away — A tremendous loss! More than two years ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, a crazed gunman attempted to stifle our America First Movement. Instead, Jim and so many other wonderful Patriots who love our Country, stood united in defense of our shared values of Freedom, Liberty, and Justice.”

Trump posted the tribute on Truth Social Thursday afternoon, referencing the iconic moment when he stood up through a pack of Secret Service agents — blood streaming from his ear — to raise his fist and shout, “Fight, fight, fight!”

“After being wounded while protecting his family, Jim showed tremendous bravery, courageously continuing to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, and maintaining a positive spirit despite unimaginable hardships,” Trump wrote. “His indelible legacy of love and devotion will forever endure. Our hearts and prayers are with the Copenhaver family, especially his incredible wife Marianne. God bless you all!”

In a second post early Friday morning, Trump added: “God bless American Patriot and Warrior, James Copenhaver, and his incredible family. May he rest in peace!!!”

The Copenhaver family issued a statement Thursday through their attorney, Joseph A. Feldman, confirming Jim had been surrounded by loved ones when he passed on September 23, 2026.

“Above all else, James was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. James shared a lifetime of commitment to his wife, instilled the values of hard work, integrity, and the service of others in his children, and found some of his greatest joy in life in his grandchildren. His family was the center of his world, and he was the center of theirs.”

The family described Jim as a veteran who “proudly served our nation in the armed forces” and whose “love of country never wavered.”

“James was a true American patriot who believed deeply in the freedoms and ideals upon which this nation was founded, and he embodied the very best traits of our great nation,” the statement continued.

The family expressed gratitude for the “outpouring of love, prayers, and support” they received over the past two years, noting that Jim “faced every challenge with the same strength and resolve that defined his life.”

Representative Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) also honored Copenhaver’s memory and referenced legislation he introduced following the Butler attack to ensure the Secret Service operates properly moving forward.

“My prayers are with the family members of Jim Copenhaver, as they grieve his loss,” Biggs wrote on X. “His passing should serve as continued motivation to provide sufficient answers and closure for the investigation into the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, where two innocent lives have now been lost.”

Corey Comperatore, 50, was the first fatality from the Butler rally attack — he was taken instantly when the gunman opened fire in July 2024. David Dutch, who was 57 at the time, was also critically wounded in the attack but survived. He is now 59.

Biggs highlighted two pieces of legislation he introduced after the Butler attack: the Secret Service Prioritization Act of 2024 to refocus the agency on its protective mission, and a resolution requiring the Department of Homeland Security to hand over all documents and communications to Congress regarding the Secret Service’s handling of the July 13 rally.

The Copenhaver family requested that any further inquiries be directed to the Feldman Law Group in respect of their privacy during this time.