Former President Donald Trump is receiving some criticism after he appeared to defend his supporters for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The former president was asked by Laura Ingraham during Thursday night’s interview on Fox News if he is “concerned” the U.S. Capitol “has become a fortress protecting the Capitol from the people who are actually supposed to be the ones in charge, not the people who are sitting in the Capitol surrounding themselves by razor wire.”
Capitol police said this week that the fencing around the Capitol has been removed — 77 days after the riot in January.
Trump called it “disgraceful” and that it is “a political maneuver that they’re doing.”
“It was zero threat, right from the start,” Trump falsely claimed of the Capitol riot, adding, “Some of them went in, and they are hugging and kissing the police and the guards … a lot of the people were waved in, and then they walked in and they walked out.”
As Politico reports, “The former president’s remarks represent perhaps his most serious distortion yet of the events of Jan. 6.”
Since Jan. 6, 379 people have been arrested and charge with crimes, Insider reports.
Five people died in the Capitol riot. Among those who died, a Capitol Police officer, Brian D. Sicknick, was beaten by protesters and died from the injuries sustained, and a Trump supporter was shot by the police inside the Capitol.
Watch Trump’s interview below:
Here's what Trump had to say on Fox tonight about the Capitol riots:
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) March 26, 2021
"It was zero threat, right from the start… Some of them went in, and they are hugging and kissing the police and the guards… a lot of the people were waved in, and then they walked in and they walked out" pic.twitter.com/tPCwuzrlOd
Trump’s remarks did not go unnoticed.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tore into the former president for his comments.
“He is an utter failure,” Kinzinger tweeted. “No remorse and no regret.”
The Republican lawmaker continued, “It’s [quite] honestly sick and disgusting.”
Kinzinger has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump following protesters storming the Capitol.
He is an utter failure. No remorse and no regret. It’s quit honestly sick and disguisting. https://t.co/iqbYbEgU8V
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) March 26, 2021
The House of Representatives impeached Trump for a second time after the riot. In January, the House impeached Trump on the charge of “incitement of insurrection” after Jan. 6. The Senate acquitted Trump on the charge.