WASHINGTON — Facing backlash for his pardons of January 6th rioters, President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his decision with more lies even as some Republicans struggle to defend it.
In one of his first acts as president, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 prisoners and pardoned nearly 1,500 offenses related to the deadly 2021 Capitol riot. He also directed the acting Attorney General to dismiss all pending indictments.
“They’ve served years in jail,” Trump said in response to questions from reporters at the White House. “They should not have served, and they’ve served years in jail. And murderers don’t even go to jail in this country.”
“We pardoned people that were treated unbelievably poorly,” he added.
Many of the 1,500 who were pardoned were convicted of violent attacks on police officers and were armed with stun guns, batons and hatchets.
Trump also said the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia, were serving sentences that he called “ridiculous and excessive”.
He continued to lie, saying the group of January 6 rioters “loved” America.
“These were people that actually love our country, so we thought a pardon would be appropriate.”
Trump then deflected and turned to the issue of violent crime in American cities to justify his pardons, as well as pardons that former President Joe Biden signed for the House Jan. 6 committee members and, separately, for members of his family as he left office.
Republican senators on Capitol Hill Tuesday struggled to defend Trump’s actions. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has warned about giving a blanket pardon to the rioters and issued his displeasure.
“I just can’t agree,” he said.
Sen. James Langford (R-Okla.) said anyone attacking a police officer should face severe punishment.
“I think if you attack a police officer that’s a very serious issue and they should pay a price for that,” he said.
Others like Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), decided to avoid answering the question altogether.
“We’re looking at the future, not the past,” he said.
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said she’s concerned about the message that the pardons send to the US Capitol Police who protect the lawmakers every day.
“I don’t think that the approach of a blanket pardon that includes those who caused harm, physical harm, to our police officers, to others that resulted in violence, I’m disappointed to see that,” she said.
Tariffs are coming Feb. 1
Elsewhere during the back-and-forth with reporters, the President said his administration plans to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Feb. 1.
Trump said “millions and millions of people” from those countries were being allowed into the United States and bringing in drugs. However, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security previously reported many of those drugs were already in America prior to the immigrants crossing the border.
TikTok ban
Trump was also asked about the TikTok ban, which was given 75-day extension to remain active in the United States thanks to an executive order he signed Monday. He said that he would be “open” to Elon Musk, the billionaire tech who will have an office in the West Wing, buying the company so that it can continue to operate in the country.
“It’s worthless if it doesn’t get a permit,” Trump said of TikTok.

