On the fifth anniversary of the violent assault on the United States Capitol, the administration of President Donald Trump has launched an official White House website that fundamentally rewrites the history of that day. The platform promotes the president's repeatedly debunked claims of a stolen 2020 election while downplaying the severity of the mob attack fuelled by his rhetoric.
A Presidential Platform for a False Narrative
The website, unveiled on Tuesday 6 January 2026, squarely places blame for the security failures of January 6, 2021, on Democratic leadership rather than President Trump or his officials. It falsely asserts that a "stolen election was certified" after what it describes as an act of "cowardice and sabotage" by then-Vice President Mike Pence for failing to dispute Joe Biden's victory.
In a stark revision of events witnessed by millions, the administration's narrative claims law enforcement officers were responsible for "deliberately escalating tensions" as a pro-Trump mob swarmed the building. It further amplifies a baseless conspiracy theory, alleging the riot was propelled by an "FBI entrapment operation" designed to target the president's supporters.
Pardoned Rioters Return Demanding Vengeance
The website's launch coincided with the return to Washington D.C. of dozens of individuals pardoned by President Trump. On his first day in office in 2025, Trump issued sweeping pardons and commutations for virtually all defendants charged in connection with the Capitol breach.
Among those marching was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio had been convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years in prison before receiving a presidential pardon. Addressing a crowd of supporters and counter-protesters who labelled them "terrorists" and "traitors", Tarrio issued a stark warning: "Retribution comes for you."
The pardoned group, still consumed by conspiracy theories insisting the attack was an "inside job," carried banners reading "J6 WAS A SETUP" and demanded the impeachment of judges and mass firings of FBI agents involved in their prosecutions. Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt who was shot dead during the riot, accused Congress of continuing to "let us down."
Judicial Record Stands Against Revisionism
This state-sponsored historical revisionism occurs despite an immutable judicial record. Federal judges overseeing January 6 cases have explicitly warned against attempts to rewrite history. More than 1,000 defendants pleaded guilty to charges related to the attack, with over 200 found guilty at trial, including ten on seditious conspiracy charges.
District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly emphasised last year that the extensive court filings—thousands of videos, transcripts, and verdicts—would preserve the truth. "Dismissal of charges, pardons after convictions, and commutations of sentences will not change the truth of what happened," she wrote. "Those records are immutable."
Furthermore, a Department of Justice Inspector General report found no evidence to support claims of FBI agents inciting the crowd, noting informants were not instructed to encourage illegal activity. The Trump administration's website, however, describes the pardoned individuals as "mere trespassers or peaceful protesters treated as insurrectionists" under the previous Biden administration, directly contradicting the findings of multiple courts and investigations.
