Former President Donald Trump called for the release of the Jan. 6 “hostages” during a campaign event on Saturday.
President Trump spoke at a rally in Iowa on January 6, 2021, marking the third anniversary of the Capitol riot protesting the treatment of those arrested. Associated Press (AP News) reported.
“You've never heard of that, right? You have hostages. J6 hostages, I call them. No one in history has been treated as badly as those people,” Trump said. told the person.
January 6th hostage pic.twitter.com/STPDs8RSIQ
— Theresa Chieng (@TheresaChieng4) January 6, 2024
The former president reminded the crowd that on the day of the attack, he called on rioters to “march peacefully and patriotically.” He compared his own initial reaction to the Capitol riot to the rhetoric of Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters, who urged protesters to “murder” Republicans during “lunch.” (Related: Kamal Harris accuses Republicans of trying to 'silence' voters as more states try to keep President Trump from voting)
“Those J6 hostages will get 20 years in prison? 18 years? Doctors, lawyers, carpenters, electricians, truck drivers. That's one of the saddest things,” Trump said. “It will be remembered as one of the saddest events in our country's history.”
President Trump has reiterated his claim that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged,” saying on January 6 that Antifa and the FBI were “leading it.”
The former president's son, Donald Trump Jr., echoed similar claims in a statement posted to social media on Saturday.
Happy False Rebellion Day!!!
The first rebellion in history between armed tour guides and unarmed participants!
But I hope this was the start of something real where people realized that their government was not what they thought they would come together to take back their country!!!
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 6, 2024
“Happy False Insurrection Day!!!” President Trump’s eldest son I have written On X (old Twitter). “The first riot in history by armed tour guides and unarmed participants! But something about people realizing that this is not what they thought their government would unite to take back their country. I hope it was the beginning of something real!!!”
Trump also promised that if he is re-elected in 2024, he will appoint “strong, qualified, pro-Constitution” Supreme Court justices who will “interpret the law as written.” The former president appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney. During her four-year term, Barrett tilted the court's ideological majority toward six conservative justices.
