A former White House aide claims Donald Trump was initially reluctant to intervene as his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6.
A former aide to Donald Trump has revealed that the ex-president hesitated and initially refused to tweet a call for peace during the violent January 6 Capitol riot. The aide, who chose to remain anonymous, spoke to CNN about the tense moments as the Capitol was overrun by hundreds of pro-Trump supporters, who clashed with police, smashed windows, and disrupted the certification of the 2020 election results.
According to the aide, Trump was “very reluctant to put out anything” as the chaos unfolded. Despite the escalating violence and the urgent need for a statement, Trump waited nearly 20 minutes before tweeting his message: “Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!”
The delay came after Trump had whipped his supporters into a frenzy earlier that day with a rallying speech. As rioters stormed the Capitol, lawmakers were forced to hide and take shelter, some fearing for their lives. Trump’s initial reluctance to act has raised questions about his response to the violence and his role in the events of that day.
