Notes in Trump’s handwriting on a draft of his 1/7 speech show that he removed a reference to prosecuting insurrectionists and disavowing their actions.
Here is Trump’s edited speech draft:
These are Trump’s handwritten edits to his January 7 statement.
He deleted any mention of DOJ prosecuting the rioters. And he he crossed out this message to those who committed the violence: “I want to be very clear, you do not represent me. You do not represent our movement.” pic.twitter.com/5ftNDSRYVM
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) July 25, 2022
Trump did not want the people who attacked the Capitol prosecuted, which not only demonstrates that he approved of and encouraged their actions but also that he knew that those who committed the violence were not Antifa. Trump has spent nearly two years denying that his supporters were the violent mob, but his speech edits tell a much different story.
Donald Trump did not want to disavow the domestic terrorists. He crossed out a statement condemning the actions of the mob and refused to say that they don’t represent him.
The former president knew that the attackers were his people and that they were doing his bidding.
Never in the country’s history has a president sided with domestic terrorists attempting to overthrow the government at his request, but the 1/7 speech edits are proof of Trump’s intent. It is evidence that Donald Trump’s heart wasn’t with democracy and the people of the United States on 1/6.
Trump’s heart was where his body wanted to be, and he wanted to be at the Capitol, leading his mob in the destruction of American democracy.
Mr. Easley is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association