Staff Reports
For three long years, the Democrats and their allies in the media have tried to pin the Jan. 6 Capitol riot solely on former President Donald Trump. They stonewalled any efforts to acknowledge that Trump had actually wanted to deploy National Guard troops ahead of the anticipated protest. This narrative has just taken a major hit thanks to the release of interview transcripts from military officials, which reveal that Trump actively requested troop presence at the Capitol. Instead of fulfilling this request, senior Pentagon leaders chose to prioritize “optics” over public safety. Apparently, looking good was deemed more important than protecting the Capitol—a choice that’s bewildering to say the least.
The transcripts emerged from various investigations including interviews by the Department of Defense Inspector General and the now-defunct House Jan. 6 Select Committee. Barry Loudermilk, the Chair of the Oversight Subcommittee, pointedly emphasized that Pentagon leadership failed in their most fundamental duty—protecting lives. According to him, they ignored Trump’s guidance while trying to convince Congressional Leaders that they were handling the situation responsibly. The irony drips thickly: who cares about an unruly mob overrunning the Capitol when the “optics” could be compromised?
Bombshell Transcripts Reveal Trump, in Fact, Ordered National Guard for January 6th — General Milley Confirms Trump Urges Top Pentagon Officials to Deploy' Guard, or Soldiers, Active Duty Soldiers' #DEMOCRATS LIED AND ARE STILL LYING!https://t.co/gSriThiHzz #gatewaypundit via…
— TIMENOUT (@TIMENOUT) September 21, 2024
The Defense Department’s Inspector General had the audacity to suggest that the actions taken—or more accurately, not taken—by Pentagon officials were “reasonable” under the circumstances. However, the Oversight Subcommittee immediately countered that these transcripts tell a very different story. They claimed that former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley confirmed Trump’s foresight about the protests, noting that the president directly instructed military leaders to prepare for what may come, ensuring safety was the priority. Yet Milley’s reflexive dismissal of Trump’s request bordered on contempt, absurdly suggesting the idea was merely “banter.”
It doesn’t stop there. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, while admitting that Trump indicated the need for up to 10,000 troops, dismissed it as unserious. But behind the scenes, Miller’s true motives came to light: a fear of politicizing the military. The U.S. military, after all, should only intervene for “photo ops” and staged press conferences, not defend the Capitol from chaos. His refusal to comply delayed the deployment of necessary forces even as the Capitol descended into anarchy.
The ultimate blame for the delayed troop response lies squarely with the commanding generals who held sway over critical decisions. Gen. Walter Piatt determined that deploying armed troops would result in poor optics. Yet in hindsight, it seems dazzlingly clear that the optics of leaving the Capitol vulnerable to an unruly mob were far worse. The lessons learned seem lost on those who were too busy polishing their images to do their jobs. While Democrats continue to weave their web of narratives, the truth increasingly reveals itself, exposing the incompetence of those who prioritized appearances over safety.
