A shocking new report claims President Donald J. Trump delivered a powerful message to then–Vice President Mike Pence on the morning of January 6, 2021, urging him to “stand firm” and do the right thing for America as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 election results.
According to a preview of journalist Jon Karl’s upcoming book, “Retribution,” shared by ABC News, Pence’s handwritten notes reveal that Trump warned him how history would remember his decision.
“If you do that, I made a big mistake five years ago,” Trump reportedly said. “You’ll go down as a wimp.”
The call, described as tense and emotional, allegedly took place just hours before the certification vote — a moment that would shape America’s future.
Trump’s Message: Defend Election Integrity
Sources claim Trump told Pence he was “listening to the wrong people” and encouraged him to send the questionable results back to the states for further review — a move that many conservatives saw as a constitutional safeguard against election irregularities.
Trump had long argued the 2020 election was “rigged and stolen”, pointing to ballot inconsistencies and late-night vote dumps in key swing states. Millions of Americans still agree, saying Trump was right to question what happened.
Jack Smith’s Political Indictment
Special Counsel Jack Smith, who has become a lightning rod of controversy, later cited Pence’s private notes in his politically charged 2023 indictment against Trump — an indictment many conservatives view as a weaponization of the justice system against a former president who dared to challenge the establishment.
Pence’s notes describe Trump pressing him to explore every legal option. When Pence pushed back, saying he lacked authority, Trump reportedly replied:
“That’s okay. I prefer the other suggestion.”
To Trump’s supporters, this wasn’t a threat — it was a call for courage, a plea to defend the integrity of the vote and the will of the American people.
Why This Matters Now
The alleged “leak” of Pence’s notes comes as President Trump continues to dominate polls heading into the 2026 midterms and 2028 election season. His critics want to keep January 6 alive — but for millions of Americans, it’s a reminder of how far Trump was willing to go to protect democracy from corruption.
With new details emerging, one question remains: Was Trump right all along about what really happened in 2020?