Salena Zito’s new book reveals how Trump’s authenticity and connection with overlooked Americans fueled his 2024 support.

Veteran Reporter Examines Trump’s Unique Connection with Voters

In her newly released book, “Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland,” veteran political reporter Salena Zito shares insights from covering President Donald Trump’s rallies and the attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last July. Zito, who was just steps away from Trump during the attack, recounts her observations of what mainstream media missed in their reporting on Trump’s enduring appeal.

Zito first noticed Trump’s unique connection with Americans during his 2016 campaign, observing his authentic interactions not just with supporters but with workers behind the scenes—janitors, caterers, plumbers, and others rarely noticed by politicians. She recalls, “He wasn't a billionaire running for president, he was a guy that saw people that don't usually get seen by elected officials, in a way that was very unique.”

Fast forward to the 2024 campaign, and Zito notes a powerful sense of community building at Trump’s rallies, especially among young voters experiencing political engagement for the first time. “What I noticed covering 2024 was the amount of young people… excited to be part of ‘bigger than self’… and they really glommed on and became excited about the way that President Trump talks about Americanism and love of country and getting to a better place together,” Zito explains.

Assassination Attempt and Media Blind Spots

Zito’s book transports readers to the harrowing moments of July 13, 2024, when a gunman fired into the crowd at Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing Trump’s ear, wounding two others, and killing firefighter Corey Comperatore. Zito recounts her decision not to seek cover during the chaos, driven by her journalistic instincts to document the unfolding history. These experiences, she says, shaped her understanding of Trump’s connection with his supporters.

Throughout her reporting, Zito sensed that Trump’s rallies fostered a genuine feeling of patriotism and community, transcending political differences among attendees. “Trump pulled them together by place and rootedness and connective tissue, and it was really, really missed by my profession, but it was so right in front of me everywhere I went in Pennsylvania,” she writes.

As the book reaches audiences on the anniversary of the assassination attempt, Zito hopes to shed light on the deeper dynamics at play in American politics, urging readers and journalists alike to look beyond the surface and understand the lived realities of everyday Americans. Her account offers a nuanced perspective on why Trump’s message continues to resonate and mobilize supporters across the nation.