Butler | Salena Zito

Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland

Extended Synopsis

In this gripping first-hand account, veteran journalist Salena Zito provides an unprecedented look at the near assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. Standing just four feet away from the presidential podium when the gunfire erupted, Zito chronicles the harrowing reality of that July afternoon and explores how a slight shift in circumstance could have plunged the nation into chaos.

Beyond the immediate crisis, Butler zooms out to offer a definitive analysis of the battle for America's heartland. Zito leverages her deep, on-the-ground reporting experience to explain the issues that truly motivate rural voters, arguing that the outcome of modern election cycles is determined not in the coastal metropolises of Los Angeles, New York, or D.C., but in places like Butler. With exclusive access to President Trump, his running mate JD Vance, billionaire supporter Elon Musk, and members of the security detail, this narrative reconstructs the fateful day and the subsequent efforts to reconnect with the heart of the electorate, offering essential insight into the forces that shaped the 2024 election.

Accolades & Key Features

• #1 New York Times Bestseller.
• USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestseller.
• Unparalleled Access: Features reporting derived from extraordinary proximity, including exclusive conversations with President Trump and key campaign figures.
• Documentary Photography: Includes dedicated imagery of the campaign and the events of July 13, 2024.

Reader Targeting

• Readers of contemporary political history and investigative journalism.
• Individuals interested in the intersection of populism, rural America, and electoral strategy.
• Observers of the 2024 presidential campaign and the cultural divisions in modern American politics.

About the Author

Salena Zito is a veteran political reporter with over two decades of award-winning experience in print and broadcast journalism. Known for her rejection of interstate travel in favor of local roads, Zito focuses on the voices of everyday Americans outside the media bubbles of Manhattan and Washington, D.C. She is a national political reporter for the Washington Examiner and a special contributor to the Washington Post, having previously contributed to The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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