Newly released audio recordings reveal Donald Trump’s true thoughts on the January 6 insurrection, just two months after the event. In the interview, the former president claimed that he had the ability to stop the riot if he wanted to.
During the interview with ABC’s chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump was asked if he would have returned to the Capitol Building while the MAGA supporters were raiding it. Trump responded by saying, “I would have.” He explained that he was initially considering going back to the building himself to stop the problem, but the Secret Service advised against it.
Trump further asserted, “And I could’ve done that. And you know what? I would have been very well received. Don’t forget, the people that went to Washington that day, in my opinion, they went because they thought the election was rigged. That’s why they went.”
However, this narrative contradicts the testimonies provided by over a thousand witnesses during the House January 6 committee hearings. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that Trump was “irate” and wanted to join the protesters at the Capitol Building so badly that he even lunged at one of his Secret Service agents, Bobby Engel. Hutchinson also overheard Trump saying that he didn’t care if his supporters were armed because he didn’t believe he would be a target of the violence.
On the morning of the insurrection, Trump allegedly expressed frustration with his Secret Service for using metal detectors to prevent armed individuals from entering the area where he was scheduled to speak. Hutchinson claimed to have overheard Trump saying, “I don’t f***ing care that they have weapons. They’re not here to hurt me. Take the f***ing mags away. Let my people in, they can march to the Capitol from here. Let the people in, take the f***ing mags away.”
Trump has denied these allegations, but the January 6 committee heard testimony supporting the claim that Trump supported the rioters’ chants of “hang Mike Pence” for fulfilling his constitutional duty to certify Joe Biden’s presidency.
In its 814-page final report, the committee concluded that Trump “lit that fire” and fueled the violent and life-threatening raid in the weeks leading up to the insurrection. As a result, Trump is facing four felony charges related to his actions on January 6, 2021.
