Ft Behind Trump in Butler, PA During Assassination Attempt
Via Fox5 Live Zone:
On FOX 5 Live Zone, anchor Guy Lambert hosted a gripping conversation with Matt Coday, who offered both a chilling eyewitness account and a deeply personal reflection on the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Butler, Pennsylvania. Coday’s perspective is unique: he was only feet away from President Donald Trump during an earlier assassination attempt, and he was physically present on the White House compound when he learned Kirk had been gunned down. His proximity to danger and his ties to victims’ families gave the interview a raw, unforgettable edge.
Coday began by recalling the harrowing moment he first experienced an assassination attempt up close. “I was literally feet behind the president when the bullets began whizzing by,” he told Lambert, describing how the chaos unfolded in split seconds—Secret Service agents yelling, bodies moving, the sharp crack of gunfire slicing through the air. That firsthand experience left him not only shaken, but also hyper-attuned to what another attack might feel like. So when news broke about Charlie Kirk’s death, Coday said the memories of that day came roaring back.
Lambert pressed him on how he learned of Kirk’s assassination. Coday explained that he was on the White House grounds when the call came in. The familiar security setting suddenly became a place of dread as staffers scrambled to confirm details. “It was surreal,” Coday said. “One minute you’re in the safest place in the world, and the next minute you hear that a friend and ally has been taken down. It shakes you.”
Coday Experienced Assassination Attempt Firsthand
But what gave the interview its emotional depth was Coday’s connection to Corey Comperatore, one of the victims killed during the Butler attack that also claimed Kirk’s life. Coday has developed a close relationship with Comperatore’s family in the weeks since the tragedy, and he described them as “an inspiration in their grief.” He spoke about attending memorial gatherings, seeing the strength and dignity of a family forced into the national spotlight by unspeakable violence, and how their loss has reshaped his own perspective.
Lambert asked how Coday balances personal grief with the broader political implications. Coday did not shy away from the big picture. He described the assassination as not only a personal loss, but a national wake-up call. “This isn’t about left versus right anymore,” he insisted. “When bullets fly at leaders and innocent bystanders, it’s about the safety and stability of our entire republic.” He called on media outlets to focus less on partisan framing and more on the root causes of political violence, echoing Lambert’s own line of questioning about whether society has grown numb to acts that once would have been unthinkable.
At the same time, Coday’s account made clear that these events aren’t abstract. They leave scars on individuals and families. He recounted his last conversation with Kirk, describing him as energetic, optimistic, and determined to expand his movement. He also detailed how Comperatore’s relatives continue to seek accountability and answers, not just for themselves but for a shaken community.
Throughout the interview, Lambert’s role was more than just facilitator; he gave Coday space to humanize the headlines. He asked about Coday’s emotional state in the aftermath, and Coday admitted that he has struggled to process how close he came to violence himself—twice. “You realize how fragile life is,” he said. “It could have been me. It could have been any of us.”
The conversation ended with a forward-looking note. Coday emphasized the need for unity, vigilance, and compassion in the face of escalating threats. “We can’t let fear dictate our future,” he said. “We honor Charlie and Corey by standing stronger, not by shrinking back.”
For viewers, the exchange was a reminder that behind every headline about an assassination or an attempted attack, there are people—witnesses, families, friends—who live with the consequences long after the cameras turn away. Lambert’s interview with Matt Coday brought those consequences into sharp focus, blending personal grief with civic urgency in a way that will stay with audiences well beyond the broadcast.
