{"id":2631120,"date":"2026-07-17T11:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/salena-zito-grateful-for-trump-shoutout-reflects-on-summit\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T11:18:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:18:36","slug":"salena-zito-grateful-for-trump-shoutout-reflects-on-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/salena-zito-grateful-for-trump-shoutout-reflects-on-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Salena Zito &#8216;grateful&#8217; for Trump shoutout, reflects on summit"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsalena-zito-grateful-for-trump-shoutout-reflects-on-summit%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2631120&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Salena Zito, a Washington Examiner columnist, expressed her gratitude after President Donald Trump called her too join him on stage at teh Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit. Trump praised her work, jokingly referring to her as &#8220;queen of the Rust Belt&#8221; and then &#8220;the Money Belt,&#8221; highlighting her focus on hardworking Americans. Zito shared that she was surprised by the call and the walk to the stage. She emphasized her dedication to listening to peopel&#8217;s stories, especially those from conventional industries like coal mining and steel manufacturing. The event, held at the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania, mainly gathered investors and industry leaders working on technological innovation, robotics, and defense to support the reindustrialization and modernization of the military. Zito reflected on her career and the importance of her work, while Trump showcased her contributions during the event.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Washington Examiner <\/em>columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/salena-zito\/\">Salena Zito<\/a> said she\u2019s \u201cgrateful\u201d after President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> called her to come onstage at the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4650426\/pennsylvania-defense-summit-trump-contracts-jobs\/\">Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have one word to describe it, and that is grateful. I work really hard,\u201d Zito said on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IUmuoSVuqMA\"><em>Hugh Hewitt Show<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>Thursday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4653048\/salena-zito-grateful-president-trump-shoutout-summit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Salena Zito \u2018grateful\u2019 for President Trump shoutout, reflects on summit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4651630\/stephen-a-smith-slams-newsom-gender-affirming-care\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Damn socialist\u2019: Stephen A. Smith slams Newsom on gender-affirming care<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4651354\/kai-trump-reflects-family-social-media-college\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Kai Trump reflects on family, social media, and nerves before heading to college<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump name-dropped Zito at the summit. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI worked with Salena Zito; I don\u2019t know if Salena\u2019s here. Is Salena here? Where\u2019s Salena?\u201d Trump said.\u00a0\u201cI love Salena. She\u2019s queen of the Rust Belt, but you\u2019re no longer the Rust Belt, you\u2019re really the \u2018Money Belt.&#8217;\u201d <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IUmuoSVuqMA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump continued to call out her name, telling her to come onstage. Zito told host Hugh Hewitt that she said, \u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d but that the president couldn\u2019t hear her.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo he made me come up to the stage, which was like this long walk down a hundred steps,\u201d Zito said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m certainly not the best in the business \u2014 I haven\u2019t been around the longest, although I\u2019m getting there because I\u2019m old, but I really work hard in doing what I do,\u201d Zito said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She went on to describe her work, saying she \u201clistens to people about their lives,\u201d and she tries to really understand their day-to-day, focusing on the hard-working people in coal mines and steel mills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen you\u2019re a reporter, you\u2019re only as good as your last story,\u201d Zito said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4649913\/businessmen-behind-freedom-fuel-gas-stations-revealed\/\"><strong>BUSINESSMEN BEHIND \u2018FREEDOM FUEL\u2019 GAS STATIONS THAT CAUSED CONCERN OVER SUBSIDIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She said the event itself, held at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\">Pennsylvania<\/a>, brought together investors focused on robotics, technological innovation, and defense contractors for \u201creindustrializing\u201d the industry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re building out and making our <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\">military<\/a>, and taking it to the next level,\u201d Zito said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Salena Zito grateful after Trump\u2019s summit shoutout<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4226,"featured_media":2631121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26196777833500.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[12021,5894,34951,7778,3634],"class_list":["post-2631120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gratitude","tag-politics","tag-salena-zito","tag-summit","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26196777833500.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4226"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2631120"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631120\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2631124,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2631120\/revisions\/2631124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2631121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2631120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2631120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2631120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}