Watch Again: Trump Rally in Illinois

MURPHYSBORO, IL — Though President Donald Trump told reporters he might cancel his appearance at a "Make America Great Again" campaign rally in downstate Illinois Saturday after 11 people were shot dead in an attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, he later decided to attend and speak.

"We don’t want to let people that are evil change our lives," Trump said from the Future Farmers of America event in Indianapolis, his stop before Illinois. "I will go to Illinois. And, we’ll keep our schedule the way it’s supposed to be."

Trump took the stage to chants of "USA, USA" while the wounds of another national tragedy were fresh in everyone's mind.

A gunman identified as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, walked into the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began shooting. The shooting took place during a baby-naming ceremony. Bob Jones of Pittsburgh's FBI field office said the gunman targeted them because of their faith. Authorities confirm 11 people were killed and six wounded, including four police officers as they rushed to the house of worship. The gunman was wounded in a shootout with police.

The Anti-Defamation League described the killings as likely "the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States."

“It’s a terrible thing what’s going on with hate in our country,” Trump said after the shooting, calling the killings a "wicked act of mass murder" and "pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable." He also said the synagogue should have had armed guards.

Trump mentioned the Pittsburgh shooting shortly after beginning his speech in Illinois.

"The hearts of all Americans are in grief," Trump said. "This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It's an assault on humanity. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world. ... The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated and cannot be allowed to continue.

"We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeate anti-Semitism and vanquish the forces of hate."

Trump used the moment to advocate for the death penalty.

"We have to bring back the death penalty," Trump said. "They have to pay the ultimate price."

'Special Attention' On Chicago Synagogues After Shooting: Cops

Trump's rally took place at the Southern Illinois Airport, with a scheduled start for 4:30 p.m. Central time. This was Trump's third appearance in Illinois since he announced his presidential campaign in 2015. Trump took the stage shortly after 5 p.m.

"We want Trump. We want Trump," the crowd chanted.

As expected, Trump touted the candidacy of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a first-term southern Illinois Republican, who is running against Brendan Kelly in the 12th Congressional District. Trump won the 12th District in 2016.

Bost spoke at the rally prior to Trump's arrival. Another Republican congressman in a tough re-election campaign, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, also spoke. Davis is facing Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan in the 13th District in central Illinois.

Trump also turned his attention on his favorite targets — Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. The crowd shouted "lock her up" when Trump mentioned Clinton.

Gov. Bruce Rauner also attended.

A sea of people wearing red "Make America Great Again" waited in long lines Saturday to get into the venue to watch the Trump rally. The lines began early in the morning.

In the days before the rally, pop-up stands selling Trump regalia appeared in various spots around Carbondale. Those stands are probably illegal, the Southern Illinoisan reports, because the vendors did not obtain city permits.