In a campaign rally in Waukesha, Wis., former President Donald J. Trump acknowledged his attempt to go to the Capitol after his speech at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021, a detail that was central to the House committee’s investigation into the attack. Trump recounted a conversation with his Secret Service detail, where he expressed a desire to join the march towards the Capitol but was advised against it. Trump stated that he respected their decision and the conversation had a casual tone, contrary to disputed claims that he physically struggled with agents to take him to the Capitol. President Biden’s campaign highlighted Trump’s comments, emphasizing that he intended to participate in the events that led to the attack on the Capitol.
This revelation from Trump is not new, as he has previously discussed his desire to march on the Capitol with his supporters on Jan. 6, expressing regret that he was prevented from doing so by his Secret Service detail. Former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified about Trump’s conversation with Secret Service agents during the House committee’s televised hearings, stating that Trump wanted to go to the Capitol. Testimony from Trump’s driver, who was not named, also confirmed Trump’s insistence on going to the Capitol after his speech at the Ellipse. Although the driver did not witness any physical confrontation, he noted the irritation in Trump’s voice when expressing his desire to go to the Capitol.
After being driven back to the White House by his Secret Service detail, Trump watched the violence unfold at the Capitol on television, according to accounts from former administration officials. Following his speech at the Ellipse, where he repeated false claims about the election and encouraged supporters to march on the Capitol, a mob stormed the building, disrupting the certification of President Biden’s victory. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump expressed openness to pardoning individuals convicted or pleading guilty in connection to the Capitol riot, while also not ruling out the possibility of political violence after future elections. He stated that the outcome of elections depends on fairness, hinting at potential unrest if he perceives an unfair result.
Throughout his rally in Waukesha and in previous interviews, Trump has maintained that he wanted to join the crowd marching towards the Capitol on Jan. 6, but was advised against it by his security detail. His account of the events suggests a more amicable conversation with the Secret Service agents, in contrast to claims of physical altercations. Trump’s acknowledgment of his desire to go to the Capitol adds to the ongoing scrutiny of his role in the events of that day, where his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The House committee’s investigation continues to reveal new information about Trump’s actions and intentions on Jan. 6, shedding light on the events leading up to the attack on the Capitol.
