Former President Donald J. Trump held an event at his golf club in New Jersey for rioters accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, just two days before he was booked at an Atlanta jail on his fourth indictment. Standing next to a portrait of himself portrayed as James Bond, Mr. Trump assured the defendants and their families that they would be treated fairly if he won another term.
At the event in Bedminster, N.J., Mr. Trump emphasized his support for the defendants and their families while also undermining law enforcement, despite presenting himself as a law-and-order candidate.
Recently, Mr. Trump has made his celebrations of the Capitol riot and its participants more public as he integrates a revisionist history of the attack into his 2024 presidential campaign. Despite numerous guilty pleas and convictions related to Jan. 6, Mr. Trump continues to portray the rioters as victims and has used their cause to energize his base.
He has embraced the Freedom Corner activists and rioters’ families who gather outside the Washington jail where some of the rioters are held. Mr. Trump’s actions risk further radicalizing his supporters and inciting similar events to Jan. 6.
Mr. Trump’s focus on Jan. 6 has become a central theme of his general election campaign, despite the event alienating swing voters. His attention to the riot has provided political leverage for President Biden, who has condemned the attack as a dark day in American history.
By highlighting issues surrounding Jan. 6, Mr. Trump aims to solidify his support base and portray himself and his supporters as victims of an unjust legal system.
Despite the controversy surrounding his stance on the Capitol riot, Mr. Trump has garnered support from individuals like Will Pope, who attended the Bedminster event and faces charges related to the riot. Mr. Pope believes that Mr. Trump’s actions reflect genuine concern for those he perceives as unfairly treated by the government.
Mr. Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, criticizes the Justice Department under President Biden for prioritizing Jan. 6 prosecution over other criminal cases, emphasizing Mr. Trump’s commitment to restoring justice for all unfairly treated Americans.
Mr. Trump’s shifting narrative on the Capitol riot reflects his evolving political strategy. Initially distancing himself from the attack, he now aligns with far-right lawmakers and activists in revising the narrative. His support for Jan. 6 defendants has grown, culminating in financial contributions to legal defense funds and public statements of solidarity.
The portrayal of Jan. 6 defendants as “hostages” by Mr. Trump has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the normalization of political violence. Federal judges and commentators warn against legitimizing the events of Jan. 6, fearing the potential for future violence and unrest.
Mr. Trump’s efforts to reshape the narrative around the Capitol attack have sparked controversy and divided opinions. By championing the cause of Jan. 6 defendants and portraying them as victims, he risks perpetuating a cycle of political violence and undermining the rule of law.
Michael Gold contributed reporting.
