Former President Donald J. Trump has continued to show support for the rioters accused of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, despite facing his own legal battles. Just two days before his fourth indictment, Trump held an event at his golf club in New Jersey for these defendants, promising them fair treatment if he were to win another term.
At the event in Bedminster, N.J., Trump stood next to a portrait of himself as James Bond and assured the defendants and their families that their suffering would end if he was re-elected. This private gathering exemplified Trump’s embrace of the Jan. 6 defendants and his efforts to undermine law enforcement while promoting a law-and-order campaign.
Despite nearly 1,000 guilty pleas and convictions related to the Capitol riot, Trump has portrayed the rioters as “hostages” and has incorporated their cause into his 2024 presidential campaign. He has even opened campaign events with recordings of riot defendants singing the national anthem from their jail cells.
Critics, including judges who have handled Jan. 6 cases, have expressed concern that Trump’s normalization of the attack could incite further violence. Judge Royce C. Lamberth warned against normalizing the Capitol riot, stating that it should not become a precedent for violence against political opponents or government institutions.
Trump’s focus on Jan. 6 has provided President Biden with a political opportunity to highlight the assault on the Capitol as one of the country’s darkest days. While Biden has sought to protect democracy and condemn the violence, Trump has doubled down on his support for the rioters, painting them as victims of a justice system gone awry.
As Trump continues to champion the cause of the Jan. 6 defendants, his actions risk further radicalizing his supporters and encouraging similar events in the future. Despite the legal consequences faced by the rioters, Trump’s unwavering support for them has become a central issue in his political agenda, setting the stage for a contentious battle in the upcoming election.
