On the fifth anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the White House sparked immediate backlash after posting what critics called a false and revisionist account of the events.
The new web page on the official White House site blames the Capitol Police and Democrats for the pro-Trump mob riot, shockingly absolving the president of responsibility and calling participants “innocent.”
The statement, shared across official White House social media channels early Monday, characterized the violence as a “security failure driven by poor leadership and political theater,” asserting that Democratic lawmakers ignored warnings and that Capitol Police actions “escalated” what the post described as a protest that “spiraled out of control.”
The message conveniently made no mention of then-President Donald Trump’s role in the events, nor did it reference the criminal convictions of hundreds of rioters who assaulted officers and forced lawmakers into hiding.
Democratic leaders swiftly condemned the post, calling it an attempt to rewrite history and undermine the officers who defended the Capitol. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the statement was “an insult to the men and women who were beaten, injured, and traumatized while protecting American democracy.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the White House was “peddling a lie that has already been rejected by courts, juries, and the American people.”
The U.S. Capitol Police issued a rare public response, saying the force “acted with courage and professionalism in the face of unprecedented violence” and noting that more than 140 officers were injured during the attack. “Blaming law enforcement for the actions of a violent mob is wrong and dangerous,” the statement said.
Historians and former members of the bipartisan January 6 committee also criticized the White House narrative, pointing to extensive video evidence, sworn testimony, and court findings that established the attack as a coordinated effort by Trump supporters to halt the certification of the 2020 election. More than 1,200 people have been charged in connection with the attack, including several convicted of seditious conspiracy.
As the anniversary unfolded, memorial events honoring fallen and injured officers went forward on Capitol Hill, while the White House post remained online. Administration officials did not respond to requests for clarification or correction, deepening concerns among critics that the federal government is now promoting a version of January 6 that sharply contradicts the historical record.