Trump considered bringing in the National Guard to protect his OWN supporters in case other people 'got in their way' and wanted to march to the Capitol with them, advisers claim
President Donald Trump considered deploying the National Guard to hold off would be anti-Trump counter protesters, according to advisers familiar with the matter.
Trump is said to have expressed interest beforehand in calling the National Guard to Wednesday's demonstration and eventual assault on the Capitol to protect his own people, the New York Times reports.
Instead, Trump was resistant in calling the troops even after the mob of brazen Trump supporters descended on the Capitol and stole property.
Trump is said to have expressed interest beforehand in calling the National Guard to Wednesday's demonstration and eventual assault on the Capitol
Instead, Trump was resistant in calling the troops even after the mob of brazen Trump supporters descended on the Capitol.
In addition to calling the National Guard for his supporters, Trump is said to have also told advisers in the days leading up to the march that he wanted to join his supporters at the Capitol.
White House officials advised against the move, however.
More than 24 hours after his public silence following his supporters storming of the Capitol, Trump released a short video where he blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' along with an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration.
The video - posted on Twitter after his suspension from the site was lifted - came as the death toll from Wednesday's rampage rose to five after a Capitol Police officer succumbed to his injuries in hospital last night.
U.S. National Guard troops walk through the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on January 06
President Donald Trump released a short video Thursday where he blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' – and called for an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration
Fox News' National Security Correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, tweeted: 'Trump in video says he “immediately ordered Nat’l Guard ...to secure the building & expel the intruders.” NOT TRUE Trump was not on calls with DoD ordering Guard. Pentagon relied on blanket permission to mobilize Guard from weekend conversations. Pence spoke to DoD from Hill'
'I’d like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United States Capitol,' Trump said, in Thursday's video.
'Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem.
'I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order.'
His claim to have called up the National Guard was immediately disputed.
Fox News' National Security Correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, tweeted: 'Trump in video says he “immediately ordered Nat’l Guard ...to secure the building & expel the intruders.” NOT TRUE Trump was not on calls with DoD ordering Guard. Pentagon relied on blanket permission to mobilize Guard from weekend conversations. Pence spoke to DoD from Hill.'
CNN, NBC, The New York Times and others all reported that it was Pence, not Trump, who spoke to the Pentagon and called up the Guard.
CNN, NBC, The New York Times and others all reported that it was Pence, not Trump, who spoke to the Pentagon and called up the Guard
Kaitlan Collins, CNN's White House correspondent, tweeted: 'Trump did not immediately deploy the National Guard yesterday, as he claims in his video. He initially resisted it, according to several people, as CNN, NYT and others reported'
AOC blasted reports that Trump ordered the National Guard to the scene
Kaitlan Collins, CNN's White House correspondent, tweeted: 'Trump did not immediately deploy the National Guard yesterday, as he claims in his video. He initially resisted it, according to several people, as CNN, NYT and others reported.'
NBC tweeted: 'In video tonight, Pres. Trump says he "immediately" deployed the National Guard. He had to be convinced to deploy the Guard, a person familiar with the matter says. VP Pence was in contact with the Pentagon, and “encouraged a much more rapid deployment than what was occurring.'
And Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, member of the House representing New York, pointed to the Pentagon's statement about the deployment, which did not mention Trump but did say they had been in contact with Pence.
The Pentagon's statement after the deployment of the National Guard does not mention Trump