On January 6, a mob of pro-Trump extremists motivated by then-President Donald Trump's lies about the 2020 election stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection.
Hoping to stop the congressional certification of then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory, the mob shattered windows, beat police officers, ransacked offices, smeared excrement across the walls and threatened the lives of even Republican elected officials.
The chaos went on for hours before Trump finally told the rioters to go home, placating them by saying they were very "special" and that he loved them.
Though his administration condemned the violence later, Trump continues to spout the same delusions that incited it in the first place: that Democrats engaged in widespread election fraud to somehow "steal" the election from Trump.
Now, the Capitol is heightening security yet again, as hundreds of conservatives prepare to descend on the building in a "Justice for J6" rally advocating for the rioters.
On Friday, Trump expressed his support in a statement for those who stormed the Capitol earlier this year on his behalf.
Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of Americapic.twitter.com/lCHgrVeX2S— RSBN \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@RSBN \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1631815572
Referring to the deadly insurrection as a "protest," he wrote:
"Our hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted so unfairly relating to the January 6th protest concerning the Rigged Presidential Election. In addition to everything else, it has proven conclusively that we are a two-tiered system of justice. In the end, however, JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!"
Social media users condemned the statement en masse.
This is the most self-serving, BS loaded, irresponsible, statement by a former president.https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1438564891934220296\u00a0\u2026— Guwa (@Guwa) 1631845144
Call this guy the traitorous malcontent that he is!! \n\nAnd saddle every elected R that doesn\u2019t condemn this treachery with it. Silence is complicity. \n\nForce voters to confront the choice in \u201822.https://twitter.com/carolleonnig/status/1438585381444853766\u00a0\u2026— Tara Setmayer (@Tara Setmayer) 1631820838
Go crawl back under the rock you came from.https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1438564891934220296\u00a0\u2026— Don Crepeau (@Don Crepeau) 1631875341
if he is not dragged in for questioning and prosecution there is no point to any of this.https://twitter.com/CarolLeonnig/status/1438585381444853766\u00a0\u2026— Oscar Nunez (@Oscar Nunez) 1631821678
Trump expressed solidarity with rioters arrested in Jan. 6 attack.\n\nThis is what happens when you let Trump get away with plotting a coup to overthrow democracyhttps://twitter.com/CarolLeonnig/status/1438585381444853766\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\ude76\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude97\ud835\udea3\ud835\ude98 \ud835\ude81\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude8d\ud835\ude9e\ud835\udea1 (@\ud835\ude76\ud835\ude98\ud835\ude97\ud835\udea3\ud835\ude98 \ud835\ude81\ud835\ude8e\ud835\ude8d\ud835\ude9e\ud835\udea1) 1631837472
What I simply cannot understand is that they DO NOT KNOW that he really, really HATES THEIR GUTS!! The only thing he loves about each of them is their thumb and their fore finger that can pick up a pencil and mark an X beside his name.https://twitter.com/CarolLeonnig/status/1438585381444853766\u00a0\u2026— DeeBee (@DeeBee) 1631893931
Some said it was Trump himself who should be facing justice.
Countless cult leaders have been taken down by the FBI, yet Donald Trump is free to continue encouraging chaos and domestic terrorism. \n#ArrestTrumpNowhttps://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1438564891934220296\u00a0\u2026— Change is now (@Change is now) 1631835064
YOU SHOULD BE ONE OF THEM. YOU KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WATCHED IT ON TVhttps://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1438564891934220296\u00a0\u2026— Betty Keithley (@Betty Keithley) 1631821283
For justice to prevail.. you should be prosecuted for treason, conspiracy to commit murder amongst numerous other charges. https://twitter.com/RSBNetwork/status/1438564891934220296\u00a0\u2026— One Eye Optimistic (@One Eye Optimistic) 1631829489
The House Select Committee regarding January 6, despite widespread opposition from Republican members of Congress, continues to investigate the insurrection.
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