The former president was addressing the crowd on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, which he played a role in before departing from office. Rather than facing widespread Republican condemnation for his actions that day, Trump garnered sympathy from his supporters, who believe he was unfairly framed. According to a recent Washington Post-UMD poll, 34 percent of Republicans falsely believe that the FBI organized the Capitol attack, contributing to a significant portion of the Republican electorate’s belief that Jan. 6 was orchestrated to politically harm Trump.
Trump’s supporters continue to echo his conspiracies about the events on Jan. 6, with some even suggesting that they were set up by the Democratic Party. The former president has used these claims as a central element of his campaign to win back the presidency, with plans to pardon a “large portion” of Jan. 6 defendants if he returns to the White House. Despite efforts to whitewash Jan. 6, the memory of that day has been a point of contention among elected Republicans, who view it with anger and shame, while Democrats aim to make it a central issue of the upcoming campaign.
The dynamics surrounding Jan. 6 are vastly different on both sides of the political spectrum. While Trump and his supporters seek to recast the events of that day, Democrats are eager to bring the focus back to the threats posed to democracy. The stark divide in perceptions of Jan. 6 and its implications for the future is a defining feature of the political landscape as the 2024 presidential race looms ahead.
