There have been numerous claims from the left regarding the events of January 6 at the Capitol, with many, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the January 6 Committee, pushing narratives that paint former President Donald Trump as indifferent to the violence.
One of the most persistent allegations is that Trump knew about potential violence but did nothing to stop it, failing to request the National Guard. However, newly released transcripts challenge this narrative, shedding light on Trump’s actual actions leading up to that day.
Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) of the Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight released a statement and transcripts that suggest Trump made efforts to ensure safety, but his requests were ignored by senior Pentagon officials.
In a press release, Loudermilk highlighted how Pentagon leadership prioritized optics over their duty to protect people.
“Pentagon leadership prioritized concerns of optics over their duty to protect lives,” Loudermilk stated. “President Trump met with senior Pentagon leaders and directed them to ensure that events on January 6, 2021, were safe. It is very concerning that these Senior Pentagon officials ignored President Trump’s guidance and misled Congressional leaders into believing they were doing their job when they were not. The DoD IG’s report is fundamentally flawed, pushing a narrative that protects them from accountability. We will keep investigating until the American people know the full truth.”
President Trump directed senior DoD leaders to ensure events on J6 be safe.
They ignored his guidance, prioritized optics concerns over security, and pushed a flawed narrative in their IG report.
The American people deserve the full truth.https://t.co/2sAxqsvoZe
— Rep. Barry Loudermilk (@RepLoudermilk) September 20, 2024
The newly released transcripts provide a revealing look into the conversations Trump had with military officials before January 6. For example, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, recalled Trump’s concerns during a January 3, 2021 meeting, just days before the protests.
Milley recalled the president’s specific request: “There’s going to be a large number of protesters here on the 6th. Make sure that you have sufficient National Guard or soldiers to ensure it’s a safe event.” Trump added, “I don’t care if you use the Guard, active duty soldiers—just make it safe.”
Despite Trump’s clear instructions, Milley and others did not follow through with the necessary measures. The consequences of that decision were seen by the world on January 6.
Even more surprising are the comments from then-Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. Despite Trump’s request for troops, Miller described the president’s direction as “presidential banter,” brushing it off as unimportant.
He admitted that he chose to disregard Trump’s request, saying, “There was absolutely no way I was putting U.S. military forces at the Capitol, period.”
The testimony from Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund further illustrates the misplaced priorities of military leaders. When Sund requested help from the Pentagon, he was reportedly told by a representative from the Secretary of the Army, “I don’t like the optics of the National Guard standing in a line with the Capitol in the background.”
🚨BREAKING: Transcripts obtained by the House Oversight Committee CONFIRM that President Trump DID INDEED ask for the National Guard on JANUARY 3, 2021 to make sure JANUARY 6 would be safe.
Gen. Milley confirmed Trump said this:
“Make sure that you have sufficient National… pic.twitter.com/MKx66oEuRw
— ᴊᴀᴄᴋ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ (@AmericazOutlaw) September 20, 2024
These revelations from the transcripts challenge the narrative that Trump was negligent or indifferent to the potential violence. Instead, it seems he actively sought to prevent unrest, only to be ignored by those responsible for security.
The released statements reveal a shocking level of defiance and disregard for the commander-in-chief’s directives, highlighting serious flaws in the Pentagon’s response to the events leading up to January 6.
As the investigation continues, the focus will likely remain on uncovering the truth about what really happened in those crucial days.
The American public has been told many different stories, but these new documents indicate that Trump did anticipate possible violence and took steps to prevent it.
