In a stunning revelation that contradicts official findings, former US President Donald Trump has claimed he personally pushed for a massive deployment of 10,000 National Guard troops to secure the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.
The assertion, made during a recent rally and detailed in a new interview, directly challenges the narrative established by the House January 6th committee and other investigations, which found no evidence of such an order.
A Contested History of Events
Trump's latest account places the blame squarely on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, suggesting they rejected his offer for military support. This version of events has been vehemently denied by officials involved in the security planning at the time.
The claim adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about responsibility for the security failures that allowed a pro-Trump mob to breach the Capitol, disrupt the certification of the 2020 election, and endanger the lives of lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence.
Official Investigations Tell a Different Story
Multiple official probes, including a comprehensive Senate report, found that Trump’s own rhetoric inspired the attack and that his administration was critically slow to respond. Testimony indicated the former president watched events unfold on television for hours before urging his supporters to disperse.
The suggestion of a pre-emptive troop deployment stands in stark contrast to these findings, raising questions about the timing and motivation behind Trump's new statement.
Political Repercussions and Future Implications
This allegation is likely to fuel further political division as Trump campaigns for a return to the White House. It reframes the events of that day from a story of presidential inaction to one of supposed thwarted intervention.
Analysts suggest this is a strategic move to reshape his legacy regarding the Capitol attack, a key issue for voters and a focal point in his ongoing legal challenges.
