OGWA President talks about Witnessing Trump’s Assassination Attempt in Butler, PA
Interview Starts at the 1:37:20 mark:
In a wide-ranging interview with veteran broadcaster John B. Wells, Matt Coday—president of the Oil & Gas Workers Association—delivered a stark warning about the hidden power structures operating in the West Texas oil patch and the personal cost he has borne for speaking out. The discussion quickly moved beyond local corruption, touching on Coday’s presence at the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, and the broader implications of what he calls the “West Texas Mafia.”
Coday began by recounting his day in Butler on July 13, where he met with Trump before the rally. Far from being just another supporter in the crowd, Coday was invited to take the stage and deliver remarks prior to the former president’s arrival. He described the moment as humbling and significant, underscoring the alignment between oilfield workers and Trump’s energy policies. What followed—an assassin’s bullet narrowly missing Trump—left Coday shaken but more resolved than ever. He noted that being so close to history underscored the stakes of what he has been warning about: entrenched interests willing to stop at nothing to protect their power.
Coday Dealing with Bad Actors
But the bulk of the conversation focused on the situation in West Texas, which Coday characterized as a cartel-like network of powerful figures—political, financial, and industrial—who manipulate the oil patch for their own ends. He described the “West Texas Mafia” as not a formal organization but a shorthand for the nexus of corrupt politicians, regulators, and corporate executives who use intimidation, backroom deals, and targeted attacks to control who prospers and who is destroyed.
According to Coday, his outspokenness has made him a target. He detailed campaigns of harassment, financial retaliation, and reputational smears designed to silence him. Wells pressed him on why he continues, and Coday insisted that the fight is not about his personal survival but about the livelihoods of tens of thousands of oilfield workers who are being squeezed by policies and practices that enrich a few while devastating communities.
The conversation peeled back layers of what Coday sees as systemic rot. He argued that the American public has no idea how much control these shadow networks exert—not only over oil and gas but over politics at the state and national levels. From manipulated contracts to environmental regulations that benefit insiders, the corruption, he claimed, erodes both free markets and the working man’s dignity. He compared the tactics used against him to what whistleblowers and reformers have faced in every generation: ostracism, financial ruin, and in some cases physical danger.
Wells, known for probing deeper than surface narratives, pressed Coday on whether these networks connect to national and even international players. Coday suggested they do, pointing to the way global energy markets intersect with local control, and how multinational corporations often find allies among West Texas powerbrokers to advance policies that undercut American workers. He stopped short of naming specific individuals, citing safety concerns, but emphasized that the pattern is unmistakable.
Returning to the Butler rally, Coday drew a line between what happened there and the struggle in Texas. He said the attempted assassination was a reminder that when entrenched power feels threatened, it resorts to the most extreme measures. While he did not allege a direct connection between the shooter and West Texas interests, he saw a parallel in the desperation of those who fear losing control. “It’s about silencing voices, whether that’s Trump on a national stage or a guy like me calling out corruption back home,” Coday said.
The interview closed with Coday reaffirming his mission. He insisted he is not afraid of being targeted, because the cause is greater than his own life. “The oilfield built this country,” he told Wells. “And if we let a handful of corrupt operators run it into the ground, then we’ve lost more than just jobs—we’ve lost the backbone of America.” Wells agreed, framing Coday’s story as emblematic of a wider struggle between freedom and control, truth and cover-up.
For listeners, the conversation painted a vivid picture: an oilfield leader who found himself at the center of a historic assassination attempt, yet whose deeper battle remains in the sun-baked oil patch of West Texas, where shadowy forces are working to destroy him—and silence the workers he represents.
