Five years after a violent mob stormed the United States Capitol, the White House has launched a controversial effort to recast the events of January 6 as a peaceful protest, directly contradicting video evidence and court records.
A 'Day of Love' Versus the Evidence
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly described January 6 as a "day of love." This characterisation starkly conflicts with the reality witnessed by millions and documented in court: a violent insurrection where supporters smashed windows, assaulted police officers, and breached the building in a bid to overturn the 2020 election result. More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the attack, some with severe wounds from flagpoles and other makeshift weapons.
The insurrection has been linked to nine deaths, including law enforcement suicides and the police shooting of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt. Despite this, the Trump administration marked the fifth anniversary by launching a dedicated "J6" section on its official website. This platform brands the more than 1,500 people convicted in connection with the day as "peaceful patriotic protesters."
An Orwellian Retelling of History
The White House narrative, which reads as a blend of state propaganda and fan fiction, astonishingly claims Capitol police escalated tensions and were "waving attendees inside." It goes further, alleging the "real insurrection" was the Democratic certification of what it calls a "fraud-ridden election"—a claim repeatedly debunked by courts and officials across the political spectrum.
"This distasteful, falsehood-filled page exemplifies the length this White House will go to continue to perpetrate the Big Lie of a stolen election," said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen. She condemned the move as "Orwellian gaslighting" of the American public who saw the violence unfold in real time.
Pardons and Subsequent Crimes
Upon taking office in 2025, Donald Trump pardoned almost all individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6 attack. This clemency extended to some with prior or subsequent serious criminal convictions. According to watchdog group Citizens for Ethics and Democracy, six of those pardoned have since been charged with child sex crimes, and two have been charged with rape.
While the White House attempted its historical revisionism, Democrats held an unofficial hearing to examine the attack's lasting impact and observed a moment of silence for the lives lost. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed, "We will not let" extremists rewrite history and whitewash the horrific events.
Meanwhile, Trump himself made no direct mention of the anniversary on his Truth Social platform, instead posting a photo of himself holding a red hat and making an unsubstantiated claim about a state governor. His assertion that "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!" rang hollow amid his administration's actions, including the controversial seizure of Venezuela's president and musings about using the military to annex Greenland.
