During a rally in Wisconsin, former President Trump revisited the events of January 6, 2021, confirming his desire to visit the Capitol on that tumultuous day. Dismissing allegations of aggression towards Secret Service agents, Trump portrayed himself as a “lover, not a fighter,” while playfully remarking on the agents’ youthfulness compared to his own. He particularly ridiculed the testimony of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who claimed he had attempted to seize control of the vehicle after a speech near the White House, dismissing it as “crazy stuff.”
Trump recounted his interaction with Secret Service agents, stating his expressed desire to visit the Capitol upon seeing crowds moving in that direction. However, he deferred to the agents’ judgment when they advised against it, portraying the conversation as straightforward and dismissing any notion of a struggle for control of the vehicle.
The events of January 6, with the Capitol being overrun by rioters seeking to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results, remain a focal point of political discourse. President Biden’s reelection campaign has capitalized on Trump’s actions that day, which also form the basis of federal charges against Trump in Washington.
Testimony from Hutchinson before the now-disbanded Jan. 6 committee had raised questions about Trump’s intentions and actions that day. While the driver of Trump’s vehicle denied witnessing any attempt by Trump to grab the steering wheel, the driver did corroborate Trump’s insistence on going to the Capitol. This aligns with details provided by Hutchinson and Bobby Engel, Trump’s head of security on January 6, suggesting Trump’s unwavering determination to join supporters at the Capitol despite security concerns.