Trump Can’t Rewrite the History of January 6, 2021
Justice had nothing to do with Trump’s 1500 pardons and commutations.
The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, two militia groups central to the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, had a good day yesterday. President Trump gave complete pardons to the leaders of both groups as well as approximately 1500 other people involved in the January 6 insurrection. Individuals who attacked police officers, broke windows, and sought to hang Vice President Pence will walk free under Trump’s pardon.
Why did Trump issue the pardons? He wants to rewrite history. As documented in the criminal indictments brought against Trump and the report of the House Select Committee on the January 6, 2021 Attack on the U.S. Capitol, after his 2020 defeat, Trump sought to retain the presidency by force and fraud. He summoned the crowd of thugs that marched to the Capitol on January 6, urged them to “fight,” and refused to direct them to stand down once the violence started.
Trump’s shameful and criminal actions on January 6 and his dereliction of duty after the assault on the Capitol started was Trump’s presidential legacy, at least until he won the 2024 election. His win last November, in Trump’s delusional mind, allows him to rewrite the legacy of his first term.
Trump called the January 6 insurrectionists “patriots” for more than two years, starting his rewrite of history as soon as the initial disbelief and shock of the Capitol attack began to wane. The chief perpetrator of the attack—Trump—repainted himself as a victim as Trump accused “antifa,” Nancy Pelosi, the FBI, communists, and others of orchestrating the attack. Trump claimed his innocence after his indictment and, going further, characterized the Special Counsel charged with investigating the January 6 attack as “deranged.”
Trump’s rebranding exercise, despite its obvious falsity, was believed by Trump followers and created skepticism about the events of January 6 on the part of others. Thousands of hours of video evidence, confessions by rioters themselves, and other evidence were accepted as “fake.” Trump became a hero to his followers. But the history of his treason remained—More than 1500 people had been arrested for an attack on the Capitol that resulted in the deaths of more than four police officers and hundreds of injuries to others.
In granting the pardons, Trump acted like one might expect a convicted felon to act—he wants America to forget history.
Unfortunately for Trump, America will not forget January 6 and the shameful action he took yesterday. Trump will be remembered for embracing the violence brought on his behalf and for thanking criminals who broke the law in a failed attempt to keep him in power.
The second Trump presidency will not end well. He has assembled a team of underqualified people, many with skeletons in their closet, and surrounded himself with oligarchs. He has also launched a “shock and awe” blizzard of executive orders, intended as much to intimidate as to change policy.
Did America enter “a Golden Age” on January 20, 2025? Did you feel “liberated” yesterday?
Were you embarrassed and ashamed of America yesterday? I was.
No rewrite. He will just cover it up with his used Depends…so you can’t see it.