Then-President Donald Trump falsely claimed greater than 100 occasions that Democrats had “rigged” or “stolen” the 2020 election forward of January’s lethal insurrectionist assault on the U.S. Capitol, a HuffPost evaluation discovered.
In reviewing all of Trump’s tweets and speeches between Election Day on Nov. 3 and the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, HuffPost mapped out the rhetoric his followers absorbed as their defiance in opposition to President Joe (*100*)’s win mounted.
Over the course of these two months, Trump ― probably the most highly effective politician within the nation and, arguably, the complete world ― lied that the election was rigged not less than 68 occasions and that it was stolen or within the means of being stolen not less than 35 occasions. He made claims of voter fraud and ballot-counting irregularities greater than 250 occasions, particularly making baseless claims that voting machines tossed or modified votes not less than 45 occasions.
The Justice Department and election officers nationwide rejected such claims, stating there was no proof of fraud or irregularities that might have overturned the election outcomes. Nonetheless, Trump falsely declared victory not less than 40 occasions, usually claiming he gained in a “landslide.”
He peddled these nuggets of disinformation throughout press conferences and rallies watched by hundreds of thousands of individuals, or on Twitter to his greater than 88 million followers. HuffPost’s evaluation included Trump’s many retweets, which may usually be interpreted as endorsements. (His Twitter account was completely suspended on Jan. 8 for violating the platform’s coverage in opposition to inciting violence.)
Democrats and a few Republicans have stated Trump’s lies clearly fomented the Capitol assault, which left not less than 5 useless, together with a police officer. Other Republicans ― even those that have helped unfold the “Big Lie” of a stolen election ― have denounced Trump’s rhetoric however stated they don’t imagine he bears duty for the violence.
In an unlikely bid, House impeachment managers this week might want to persuade not less than 17 Republican senators to affix their Democratic counterparts in convicting Trump of inciting the assault on the Capitol.
Most GOP senators have claimed the trial is unconstitutional as a result of Trump is not in workplace and have indicated they won’t vote to convict. (Prominent authorized students have argued the trial is clearly constitutional.)
Some Trump loyalists within the Senate have rebutted Democrats by stating Trump known as for “peace” earlier than and through the assault. Trump, the truth is, did attraction for peace through the Jan. 6 rally precisely as soon as.
He additionally referenced the necessity to struggle roughly 10 occasions through the rally, urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election outcomes not less than seven occasions, and inspired his supporters to “stop the steal” not less than twice. Minutes later, a whole bunch of rallygoers would march towards the Capitol.
“We fight like hell,” Trump had advised the gang. “And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
The insurrectionists heeded Trump’s warning, preventing law enforcement officials and breaking down safety obstacles to get inside. Some smeared feces on the partitions; others stole paperwork and property from lawmakers’ workplaces. Pipe bombs had been found on the close by headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee.
As the assault unfolded, Trump fired off a few temporary tweets encouraging the rioters to be “peaceful.” He waited till an hour after the Capitol had been breached to lastly name on the insurrectionists to go away. In a brief video, Trump advised them “we love you” and that they’re “very special” however stated they need to “go home.”
By that time, senators and House members had been already in lockdown and Pence had been evacuated.
“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,” Trump tweeted later that night time. “Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!”
In the months main as much as the election, Trump laid the inspiration to say the method had been rigged in opposition to him and that sure varieties of ballots could be fraudulent. His feedback between Election Day and Jan. 6 had been, in some ways, an extension of this disinformation push.
Throughout his presidency, Trump incessantly bashed the media because the “enemy of the people” and “fake news.” The months main as much as the Capitol riot had been no completely different. Between Election Day and Jan. 6, Trump attacked the media not less than 30 occasions.
“All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened radical left Democrats … and stolen by the fake news media,” Trump stated through the Jan. 6 rally. “That’s what they’ve done and what they’re doing. We will never give up. We will never concede.”
Later that afternoon, Capitol rioters focused members of the press throughout their assault, scratching “murder the media” right into a door of the constructing, punching a photographer and destroying not less than one information outlet’s gear.
“We are the news now!” one man reportedly shouted as rioters long-established one of many digital camera cords into a noose.
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