Trump Tweeted 'Stay Peaceable' on Jan. 6 After Violence Started

Through the Sept. 10, 2024, debate between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, ABC Information moderator David Muir asked Trump whether or not he had regrets for his function within the violent occasions on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Following Trump’s answer, Harris provided her own thoughts in regards to the matter.

Whereas the controversy continued, a consumer on X named Chad Prather, host of “The Chad Prather Present,” posted (archived) a screenshot of a Trump tweet (archived) from the day of the riot. Prather added to his put up, in reference to Harris, “Because the moderators will not truth test her.”

Because the moderators will not fact-check her…. pic.twitter.com/MXuqGtaeoh

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) September 11, 2024

The promoted declare was that Trump tweeted to “stay peaceable” with “no violence,” which means that Trump might wash his fingers of the matter in innocence. Customers beforehand shared this real tweet alongside another one (archived) in a meme shared on X which Trump additionally stated to “keep peaceable.”

The meme appeared like this:

“Does anybody bear in mind these tweets … in all probability not as a result of they have been eliminated,” the meme incorrectly claimed.

In our analysis, we concluded that whereas Trump’s @realDonaldTrump account actually did show these two tweets, Prather’s put up and different customers’ posts presenting Trump’s phrases lacked essential context. (We famous Trump himself repeatedly shared posts showing he held robust views about his words being taken out of context.)

In sum, Trump did tweet to his supporters who have been already rioting on the Capitol to “stay peaceable” with “no violence” and likewise to “keep peaceable” and to “help our Capitol Police and legislation enforcement.” Nonetheless, anybody asserting any stage of innocence for Trump’s function within the Capitol riot by means of the sharing of those two tweets — or the lone point out of the phrase “peacefully” throughout his speech — would accomplish that by ignoring the overwhelming majority of the remainder of the information out there for this matter, primarily being the very fact Trump posted his tweets after the violence on the Capitol had already begun and lots of months after he repeatedly promoted baseless accusations of voter fraud.

Context Is Key

On Jan. 8, 2021, Twitter introduced a permanent suspension (archived) for Trump’s account following the occasions on the Capitol. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk later restored access to Trump’s account following his 2022 buy of the platform.

In the meantime, on Trump’s Fb web page, two posts displaying the identical phrases remained available. Fb ultimately additionally temporarily suspended his account.

The consumer who created the aforementioned meme claimed one thing a few cover-up to cover these tweets from the general public. In actuality, numerous information organizations and different blogs reprinted the phrases from the 2 posts in articles revealed all over the world.

Maybe most vital in regards to the context behind the meme was that these tweets from Trump got here after the violence at the Capitol had already started — and lots of months after he repeatedly promoted baseless predictions of large voter fraud within the 2020 U.S. elections. In any case, the driving power behind Trump’s supporters violently protesting on the Capitol stemmed from the previous president’s personal promotion of the false perception that the election had been stolen. To be clear, it’s false to claim that the 2020 election was “stolen.”

Two Tweets

Trump’s account displayed the instances of the posting of the primary message as 2:38 p.m. EST on Twitter and a couple of:40 p.m. on Facebook. It learn, “Please help our Capitol Police and Legislation Enforcement. They’re actually on the aspect of our Nation. Keep peaceable!”

The second tweet from the meme was posted a short while later, at 3:13 p.m. on Twitter and three:14 p.m. on Facebook. The tweet stated, “I’m asking for everybody on the U.S. Capitol to stay peaceable. No violence! Keep in mind, WE are the Get together of Legislation & Order – respect the Legislation and our nice women and men in Blue. Thanks!”

USA As we speak revealed a timeline of the Capitol riot displaying rioters had already breached the grounds earlier than Trump issued his tweets about being “peaceable.” In actual fact, after the grounds had been breached, Trump first tweeted, “Mike Pence did not have the braveness to do what ought to have been achieved to guard our Nation and our Structure, giving States an opportunity to certify a corrected set of details, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they have been requested to beforehand certify. USA calls for the reality!”

At 2:24 p.m. Trump tweets that “Mike Pence did not have the braveness to do what ought to have been achieved to guard our Nation and our Structure…” pic.twitter.com/0M5VIy7lt5

— USA TODAY Graphics (@usatgraphics) January 8, 2021

With the assistance of a bullhorn, one of many folks on the Capitol riot learn to the group Trump’s tweet about Pence. The next video, which was unveiled by the U.S. Home panel investigating the riot, confirmed this to be the case:

They used my footage “Mike Pence did not have the braveness” within the phenomenal @frontlinepbs “Democracy On Trial” it was really AFTER the 187 minutes at 4:23pm and he was encouraging them to maintain combating. The Nationwide Guard had been denied 14 instances by Chris Miller at that time! pic.twitter.com/kudd0EqYmw

— RealSandiBachom 📹 (@realsandibachom) January 31, 2024

Rioters shouted, “Dangle Mike Pence.”

The U.S. Home panel additionally reported receiving testimony claiming Trump seemingly confirmed approval of the group’s chants to “hold Mike Pence.”

‘We Love You. You are Very Particular.’

Greater than an hour after Trump’s second tweet, a video appeared on his social media accounts about 4:17 p.m. Within the video, Trump repeated the baseless allegations of voter fraud and falsely claimed he gained the election in a “landslide” victory. He advised supporters, “However you must go residence now.” He additionally spoke to the violent rioters, saying, “We love you. You are very particular.”

Trump’s last tweet of the day appeared at 6:01 p.m. He stated, “These are the issues and occasions that occur when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from nice patriots who’ve been badly & unfairly handled for therefore lengthy. Go residence with love & in peace. Keep in mind this present day ceaselessly!”

This was one in every of Trump’s closing tweets earlier than his Twitter suspension.

Ellipse Speeches

Earlier on the identical day, Trump delivered a misinformation-filled speech to supporters on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. In accordance with The Related Press, some supporters left early for the Capitol before he was finished speaking. Different supporters spent the morning “casing the entrances to the Capitol.” Through the speech, Trump used the phrase “peacefully” one time. In accordance with a transcript, Trump stated, “I do know that everybody right here will quickly be marching over to the Capitol constructing to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” On the similar time, he additionally advised them, “We battle like hell. And in the event you do not battle like hell, you are not going to have a rustic anymore.”

Throughout the identical speech, Trump advised supporters, “We’ll stroll all the way down to the Capitol.” Within the speech, he stated that he can be strolling to the constructing with them. “I will be there with you,” Trump stated. Nonetheless, he didn’t stroll with them, nor did he journey to the Capitol in another method.

Previous to Trump’s speech, former New York Metropolis Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others warmed up the group with transient remarks. Giuliani said, “Let’s have trial by fight!” Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., additionally told these gathered on the Ellipse, “As we speak is the day American patriots begin taking down names and kicking ass.”

Arrests, Costs and Suicides

As of August 2024, court docket data mirrored arrests and expenses for nearly 1,500 people for his or her alleged participation in actions associated to the Capitol riot.

The Washington Put up reported that 140 legislation enforcement officers have been injured throughout the violence. CNN later reported Matthew Graves, the U.S. lawyer for the District of Columbia, stated, “We all know from speaking to the a whole bunch of officers guarding the Capitol that day that this 140 quantity undercounts the variety of officers who have been bodily injured, not to mention those that have suffered trauma on account of the day’s occasions.”

Additional, CNBC published “Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who collapsed in his workplace after responding to the riot, died Jan. 7 from two strokes. Washington’s chief health worker has stated that ‘all that transpired’ throughout the riot performed a task in Sicknick’s situation.” The U.S. Capitol Police revealed of Sicknick’s loss of life on the day following the riot, “This doesn’t change the very fact Officer Sicknick died within the line of obligation, courageously defending Congress and the Capitol.”

Moreover, CNBC reported that at the very least 4 different officers concerned in defending the Capitol later died by suicide.

Sources