Scott Presler accuses Sen. John Thune of banning him from a GOP dinner over the SAVE Act
Presler to Benny Johnson: “Clearly, they didn't want me in that dinner where I was going to be a meek, quiet observer because I am pushing for the country saving SAVE America Act”
Published
Citation
From the June 29, 2026, edition of The Benny Show, posted to YouTube
BENNY JOHNSON (HOST): Scott Presler is joining our program who's been advocating, of course, for the SAVE Act, but then also bringing some — what what do Democrats call — good trouble to John Thune's South Dakota Republican Party convention where John Thune ordered Scott Presler effectively banned and sent law enforcement after Scott Presler this weekend. Scott handled it like an absolute champ and a total consummate professional. It's our honor to welcome Scott back to the program right now.
Scott, glad to see that you are not in shackles based on the sergeant-at-arms in South Dakota. I wasn't sure if you're going to be joining me live from a holding cell in the GOP state convention or not, but I'm glad that you got out alive there.
SCOTT PRESLER (GUEST): Hey, if they arrest me, I just hope that somebody films it. Thanks for having me back, Benny.
JOHNSON: Please tell me what happened. For those who weren't following along, Scott had a — I think we have some of the media loaded up here. Scott had an unbelievable weekend. Maybe you can just take it from the top, Scott.
PRESLER: Thank you. So this past weekend was the South Dakota Republican Party convention, and I have had plans to attend the convention for weeks now. I didn't even know that this dinner was happening until the day that I arrived. And I didn't even know that Senate Majority Leader Thune was confirmed for the dinner either. And I think those are two very important points. So on Thursday, I attend the convention with no incident. I'm shaking hands. I'm meeting voters. I'm respectfully observing what's going on there because I'm not a voter or a delegate. And so I'm told that if you have a ticket for the dinner, you're allowed to go. A very kind follower of mine gave me his ticket forgoing the opportunity to see our Senate majority leader and to see our Department of Homeland Security secretary, Markwayne Mullin. And he said, Scott, I want to give this ticket to you. So I show up, Benny, as a ticketed holder. They were not asking for anyone's IDs. They didn't have a manifest of names. They weren't taking roll call. It was if you have a ticket, you are allowed in. When I get there, Benny, I'm told immediately you cannot come in. And I'm showing them, ironically enough, my golden ticket to get in. And they say, no, you are not allowed. So I pull out my phone and that video that has gone viral, I'm filming myself. I'm not pointing it at people. I'm not getting into anyone's space. I'm filming me. And when I say we're going to find out what happened and why I'm not allowed, the sergeant-at-arms, Matt Bruner, decides to invade my space, come into my frame, and that's where you can hear the expletives and where I am cursed at while remaining calm and a consummate professional. And ultimately, we found out that it was Senate Majority Leader Thune's staff and his call that I was not allowed at the event. And furthermore, Benny, which I think is very important, there is one video that you'll see from the outside looking into the dinner. There is a photo of me on one of the tables. So when the comms director for Senate Majority Leader Thune says that press was not allowed, there was only one person that was not allowed to this event. And I believe that it was calculated. I believe that it was premeditated. And, clearly, they didn't want me in that dinner where I was going to be a meek, quiet observer because I am pushing for the country saving SAVE America Act.