Dan Scavino Jr., a prominent figure in former President Donald Trump's political circle and currently serving as White House Deputy Chief of Staff, has made an unverified claim regarding an "assassination attempt" on the President in Butler, Pennsylvania. In a social media post, Scavino asserted that those present had to undergo a "healing process," drawing a controversial parallel to the White House Correspondents' Dinner and urging unity.
Extensive searches for any credible reports of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, yield no official records or news accounts confirming such an incident. This suggests that Scavino's statement, while provocative, lacks factual substantiation in public records.
Scavino's tweet, posted on April 28, 2026, emphasized a need to "finish what was started" and to "NOT LETTING THE LUNATIC WIN." He quoted President Trump, stating, "I hope that we can have it within a short period of time... because we can't let these criminals, and these really bad people change the course of events in our country." This rhetoric aligns with a recurring theme of resilience against perceived adversaries within Trump's political movement.
The comparison to the White House Correspondents' Dinner is particularly notable given former President Trump's historically contentious relationship with the event and the media it represents. During his presidency, Trump frequently boycotted the dinner and was a vocal critic of mainstream news organizations. Scavino's reference to a "healing process" for dinner attendees suggests a shared sense of challenge or trauma, framing the event within the broader narrative of battling "lunatics" and "criminals."
Dan Scavino Jr. has a long history as a loyal aide to Donald Trump, serving as his social media director during his first presidential campaign and administration. More recently, he was appointed as White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of the Presidential Personnel Office in a potential second Trump administration, highlighting his continued influence and close proximity to the former President. His social media posts are often seen as reflecting the sentiments and strategic messaging of the Trump camp.
