Scavino, who was among several top administration officials inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, attempted to light the torch on a made-for-MAGA moment after someone in the crowd shouted “God bless America.”
“USA! USA!” said Scavino while climbing over seating moments after President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were whisked away from the head table by U.S. Secret Service.
Video appears to show at least one woman awkwardly keeping the chant going before it was eventually shushed into silence by the alarmed crowd, most of whom were crouching toward the floor as law enforcement officers surveilled the scene from the event stage.
Puck News’ Peter Hamby wrote in a post to X that “absolutely no one wanted to hear” the chant, including “Trump folks,” before simply describing Scavino’s attempt as “terrible.”
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the suspect, who buzzed past a security checkpoint and tried to storm the ballroom with guns and knives before being tackled to the ground, is believed to have been targeting members of the Trump administration.
In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, Scavino — who witnessed the 2024 assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania — wrote on X that he never thought he’d be “hitting the ground again” as a result of shots fired.
“Brings back a lot of terrible memories,” he wrote in the post. “I am so thankful that everyone in attendance tonight is okay. We’re all in this together, stay strong! 💪🇺🇸🦅.”
