Butler

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

De: Salena Zito

Narrado por: Helen Wynn

“Salena Zito is the journalist who knows Trump—and his voters—better than anyone.” – The Free Press

From the acclaimed journalist standing only a few feet away from the stage when the gunshots began is this gripping first-hand account of the near assassination of Donald Trump–and the inside story of Trump’s heartland-fueled victory.

That day in Butler, had the wind gusted less, had Trump’s head turned in a slightly different direction, or had the adrenaline-fueled heart of the shooter beat slower, America would have been plunged into chaos, possibly even civil war. As a local reporter with deep ties to the area, Salena Zito had been invited by the president to interview him at the Butler Farm Show Grounds. She was standing only four feet away from the presidential podium when the bullets started to fly. A campaign staffer tackled her to the ground.

Throughout it all, Salena never stopped reporting. She spoke by phone to Trump several times in the immediate aftermath and was granted access to community members, rally participants, family members and local law enforcement officials. “I rarely look away from the crowd,” Trump told her in one of several of those conversations. “Had I not done that in that moment, well, we would not be talking today, would we?”

Known for her on-the-ground reporting on populism and rural America, Salena zooms out to tell the fascinating story of the battle for America’s heartland and the issues that actually motivate voters. To understand how and why Trump won the 2024 election, you have to understand places like Butler. Big cities like Los Angeles, New York, and D.C. don’t decide who wins election cycles, but people in places like Butler, Pennsylvania sure do. President Trump gave the author extraordinary access for this book, including to his top aides, to his running mate JD Vance, to billionaire supporter Elon Musk, and even his security detail.

There are moments that define America. The late afternoon hours of July 13, 2024 was one of them. This book is a narrative of that fateful day, the people of the heartland and the untold story of how the president found his way back into the heart of the electorate.

©2025 Salena Zito (P)2025 Center Street

Reseñas de la Crítica

"One of the most talented writers, a person who truly has the pulse of this area. Pennsylvania, and the Rust Belt in general. The Rust Belt is her territory."—President Donald J. Trump

"There isn't a journalist in America who gets everyday Americans like Salena Zito does. She puts the miles on her Jeep and wears down the soles of her boots to get the stories that her colleagues in the media ignore, and every page of this book shows it. A masterpiece of a narrative that explains why the 2024 election went the way it did."—Ainsley Earhardt

"This is a powerhouse of a book. Salena Zito is out there in the heartland, uncovering the truth about the 2024 fight for America's soul like only she can. This is vintage Zito, delivering the unfiltered pulse of the people with grit and brilliance--trust me, you won't put it down!"—Sean Hannity

Small people heard!

Most people don’t understand (or even try) flyover country. So refreshing and hopeful! Over 150 days in I am still thrilled!

Good review. One problem.

Good review of the 2024 Presidential Election from Butler PA on. Thought it would have more in depth about Crooks and the investigation. Still know next to nothing about him and why he did it. No discussion of how he got off eight shots. No discussion of why his father told 911 his son was in a sporting club when he called to report his adult son missing, No report on how they had top legal talent representing the parents immediately.

What I did like, and hadn’t realized the extent, was how little the Harris-Walz Campaign interacted with the public. Not just skipping Joe Rogan, but skipping all media and making ‘public’ events invite only.

The often repeated story of how great a campaign Harris ran was purely a fiction.

Gods plan for Trump

Hearing how President Trump is adamant of bringing America and Americans back to the forefront!

Great book!!!

So interesting and informative. I had never heard the story about Washington. Very much worth checking out.

Butler Explained

What an incredible recap of a history making day. More journalists could learn “the art of reporting”from Salena Zito and her take on the election. It’s a book I couldn’t stop listening to once I started. You won’t be disappointed.

Excellent

This contains information every one should know about this election cycle,not just the assassination attempt.

Details

I liked all but 1 of the chapters that was too detailed about the reporters.

The descriptions of the people in Butler and other small towns in PA and Ohio and Trumps concern for them

I did not dislike anything. I liked how she clarified why the press is failing and the Democratic Party to understand the common person.

Wonderful story and great insight

This should be required reading, especially if you don’t know why Trump was elected twice, told through the eyes of the author who lived through the gutting out of middle America in the name of globalization and progressivism.

This book shows the incredibly human and decent side of Trump which mainstream media refuses to acknowledge as does the so called elite.

Before you bash me and call me names I dedicated my entire 40 career in service to our great Nation starting with the US Navy. I have a college degree but also get my hands dirty every day

Great book by a true American journalist!

I love Selena Zito’s writing and her style of covering America and giving a true perspective of what Americans think and feel. There is no better observer and reporter of what’s actually going on in the hearts and minds of real people. This was an excellent book.