Former President Donald Trump marked the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault during a campaign event in Iowa. He portrayed the surge in migrants at the southern border as the "real" insurrection, claiming countries were releasing prisoners to fuel the increase. However, there is no evidence to support this assertion.
Days before the Iowa caucuses, Trump persisted in asserting that the influx of migrants constituted a more significant threat than the events of January 6. He quoted his earlier remarks, emphasizing a distinction between peaceful and patriotic protests and the violent actions of the Capitol rioters who sought to overturn the 2020 election results.
This rhetoric followed President Biden's speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he portrayed Trump as a severe threat to democracy and characterized January 6 as a day when America was nearly lost. Both Trump and Biden frequently reference the Capitol riot on the campaign trail, with Trump downplaying his role and spreading conspiracy theories about the event.
CGTN’s Franc Contreras visited the Mexican town of Mapastepec in Chiapas state to speak with migrants making their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. Take a look at what’s going on. #CGTNnews pic.twitter.com/ua1pmGMKEg
— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) January 6, 2024
Trump, who faces federal indictment for attempts to overturn the 2020 election, also expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment of individuals charged in connection with the riot, labeling them as "hostages." Over 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.
The former president, engaged in pre-caucus events in Newton and Clinton, Iowa, signed items passed by the crowd, including a Playboy magazine featuring him on the cover. Trump's speech in Newton targeted Biden's perceived incompetence and portrayed him as the real threat to democracy. He also criticized fellow Republicans, including the late Sen. John McCain, blaming him for derailing GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
In Des Moines, Trump courted young conservative activists, hoping to mobilize first-time caucus participants as a show of force against his rivals, including former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Haley, gaining ground in the polls, faced intensified attacks from Trump, who accused her of being insufficiently conservative and disloyal.
Trump's critiques of Haley included highlighting controversial statements and her failure to mention slavery as a cause of the Civil War. He emphasized his fascination with the war and suggested he could have prevented it through negotiation. Trump's campaign aimed to demonstrate organizational strength and maintain his lead in early state and national polls.
Despite Haley's assertion that Trump's attention signaled concern about her momentum, she dismissed his comments as untrue during a campaign event in North Liberty, Iowa. As the Republican nomination process neared, the rivalry between Trump and his key competitors intensified, setting the stage for a contentious campaign leading up to the general election.