Bullets & Barrels: Oil Man who Dodged Bullets in Butler Assassination Attempt Talks U.S. Oil Prices and Nuclear Waste Threat
Matt Coday has been on the frontlines—both in energy policy and in the battle to preserve America’s security. The President of the Oil & Gas Workers Association is no stranger to high-stakes moments, but recent events have given his voice even greater urgency. It might be bigger than an assassination attempt.
In Butler, Pennsylvania, Coday was literally on stage behind Donald Trump when gunfire erupted. It didn’t take long to realize this was an assassination attempt. Coday risked being in the crossfire. He saw the bullets cut through the air, and in the chaos that followed, he attempted to calm the panicked crowd while offering aid to firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was mortally wounded that day. For Coday, the memory is seared into his mind—not just as a personal experience, but as a reminder of how fragile security can be in America today.
Only weeks later, while in a meeting on the White House compound, Coday learned that conservative leader Charlie Kirk had been assassinated. The convergence of these tragedies underscored for him that the threats facing America are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader pattern that demands attention, vigilance, and action.
That is why Coday insists this is not just about politics—it is about national security. Recently, he has been at the White House and on Capitol Hill meeting with Members of the House Homeland Security Committee and other policymakers. The Oil & Gas Workers Association has been pressing lawmakers to block the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s dangerous proposal to store high-level nuclear waste above ground in the Permian Basin, America’s most prolific oil-producing region. “This is a national security issue,” Coday says, warning that exposing America’s vital energy hub to risks of contamination or attack would be catastrophic.
Meanwhile, Coday is also sounding the alarm on why strengthening America’s energy dominance is key to the nation’s security. He points to trade deals under negotiation, including with the UK, that will bolster U.S. oil and gas for decades to come—deals that mean more jobs for American workers and stronger positioning against adversaries who use energy as a weapon.
With firsthand experience of the threats facing the nation, both on the ground in Butler and in policy battles in Washington, Coday offers a unique perspective: America’s safety and prosperity depend on defending its energy backbone and securing its people against those who would undermine it.
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Q&A:
- What went through your mind as you stood behind Donald Trump in Butler and bullets began flying?
- In that moment of chaos, how did you respond, and what do you remember most about trying to aid Corey Comperatore?
- How did learning of Charlie Kirk’s death while you were on the White House compound shape your understanding of the threats facing America today?
- You’ve said these events underscore a national security crisis—what exactly do you mean by that?
- You recently met with White House officials and Members of the House Homeland Security Committee—what were the main issues you pressed them on?
- Why is the proposal to store high-level nuclear waste above ground in the Permian Basin such a threat to America’s energy security?
- How do trade deals like the one being negotiated with the UK factor into long-term U.S. energy independence and national security?
- From your perspective, what must America do now to both protect its people and safeguard its energy backbone against future threats?
ABOUT MATT CODAY…
Matt Coday is a fourth generation oilfield worker. He is the President & Founder of Oil & Gas Workers Association (OGWA), a grassroots, independent trade association working to save American oil and gas jobs.
President Trump thanked Matt and OGWA for their endorsement in September 2023. Matt spoke at both of President Trump’s 2024 campaign rallies in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Matt witnessed political violence first hand on July 13, 2024, when someone tried to assassinate President Trump. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a dark day for America and reminds Matt of the attacks he’s seen on those who are courageous enough to stand up for our freedoms.
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