Trump lies about Capitol riot by claiming his supporters were ‘hugging and
“It was zero threat, right from the start, it was zero threat. Look, they went in, they shouldn’t have done it. Some of them went in, and they are hugging and kissing the police and the guards, you know, they had great relationships,” Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “A lot of the people were waved in, and then they walked in and they walked out.”
Trump appeared to suggest that some of the rioters should face repercussions, but quickly pivoted to attacking the leftist movement Antifa, a familiar target of his that he has often cited to draw a false equivalency in downplaying crimes committed in his name.
“They’re persecuting a lot of those people, and some of them should be — some things should happen to them. But when I look at Antifa in Washington, even, what they did to Washington and what they did to other locations and the destruction, and frankly, the killing and the beating up of people, and nothing happens to them whatsoever. Why aren’t they going after Antifa?” Trump told Fox News.
Ingraham then interjected. “But you would say that people who commit crimes, regardless of what their political affiliations are, should be prosecuted?”
“Absolutely. What you said is exactly right,” Trump replied.
The mob of pro-Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol intended to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 election.
As they entered the Capitol, rioters could be heard chanting death threats against Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several lawmakers, some of whom hid throughout the building while the mob sought them out.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
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