Fact Check: Trump Pardoned All Jan. 6 Rioters on His First Day Back in the White House
What We Know
The claim that "Trump pardoned all Jan. 6 rioters on his first day back in the White House" is based on the proclamation issued by former President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. In this proclamation, Trump commuted the sentences of certain individuals convicted of offenses related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and granted full pardons to others. Specifically, the proclamation states that he would "grant a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021" (source-1).
However, the term "all" is misleading. The proclamation applies to individuals convicted of offenses related to the events of January 6, but it does not encompass every person charged or involved in the incident. Reports indicate that over 1,500 individuals were charged in connection with the January 6 events, and while many received pardons, not every single individual was pardoned on that day (source-2).
Analysis
The proclamation issued by Trump is indeed significant, as it represents a sweeping action regarding the January 6 rioters. However, the claim that he pardoned "all" rioters is an exaggeration. The proclamation specifically mentions a group of individuals whose sentences were commuted and states that pardons were granted to "all other individuals" convicted, but it does not clarify the total number of individuals affected or imply that every single person involved in the events received a pardon.
Moreover, the context of the pardons is crucial. The pardons were framed as a means of addressing what Trump described as a "grave national injustice" (source-1). Critics, including members of Congress, have pointed out the financial implications of these pardons, emphasizing that many rioters were ordered to pay restitution for damages caused during the attack, which they would no longer be required to fulfill (source-2).
The reliability of sources discussing the pardons varies. Official proclamations from the White House are primary sources, while reports from news outlets and congressional statements provide secondary analysis. The latter can be subject to bias, particularly in politically charged contexts, and should be evaluated accordingly.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump pardoned all January 6 rioters on his first day back in the White House is False. While he did issue a proclamation granting pardons to many individuals convicted of offenses related to the January 6 events, the assertion that he pardoned "all" rioters is misleading. The proclamation does not encompass every individual charged, and the total number of pardons granted is not clearly defined. Therefore, the claim lacks accuracy.
Sources
- Granting Pardons And Commutation Of Sentences For Certain Offenses Relating To The Events At Or Near The United States Capitol On January 6, 2021 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/granting-pardons-and-commutation-of-sentences-for-certain-offenses-relating-to-the-events-at-or-near-the-united-states-capitol-on-january-6-2021/)
- President Trump's Pardons Stick Taxpayers With the Bill for January 6 Attack; Oversight Democrats Want to Know How Much (https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/president-trumps-pardons-stick-taxpayers-bill-january-6-attack-oversight)
- Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump had criminal records (https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/nx-s1-5276336/donald-trump-jan-6-rape-assault-pardons-rioters)
- Trump defends pardons for rioters and suggests Proud Boys were justified (https://apnews.com/article/trumps-first-day-white-house-b9ab76e21a159e681ea5ac74231adcea)
- Trump's Jan 6 pardon frees hundreds of Capitol rioters (https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-supporters-who-stormed-us-capitol-begin-leave-prison-following-sweeping-2025-01-21/)
- Pardon of January 6 United States Capitol attack defendants (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardon_of_January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack_defendants)
