News

Mitch McConnell Blames Trump For Inciting Capitol Riot: ‘Provoked By The President’

Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) acknowledged President Donald Trump’s role in inciting the riot at the Capitol on Tuesday, claiming they “were provoked by the president and other powerful people.”

McConnell’s remarks came in the last full day of Trump in office, and ahead of an anticipated post-presidency Senate impeachment trial — something McConnell has said he is keeping an open mind about.

“The last time the Senate convened, we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty. The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

The riot that occurred on Jan. 6 left five dead, including one Capitol Police officer. The protest came the same day that Congress was set to certify President-elect Joe Biden‘s victory, as Trump and other Republicans had consistently promoted baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud and claims that the election was “fraud” or “stolen.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Hours before the mob turned violent, Trump had told supporters in D.C. that “they rigged it like they have never rigged an election” and “we won this election and we won it by a landslide.”

In comments made following the violence, McConnell argued against a handful of GOP lawmakers challenging slates of electors in Arizona and Pennsylvania saying, “This election actually was not unusually close.”

“Just in recent history, 1976, 2000 and 2004 were all closer than this one,” he added.

He specifically condemned the rioters for their clear attempt to block democracy, noting they tried “to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like.”

Katherine Huggins

Share
Published by
Katherine Huggins

Recent Posts

Kamala Harris Panned For No-Show At California Democratic Convention Amid Rumored Run For Governor

Following her failed presidential campaign, former Vice President Kamala Harris’ political future is uncertain. Many…

2 hours ago

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie Warns Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Will Send U.S. Straight Into A ‘Titanic’-Sized Fiscal Iceberg

In the early hours of the morning, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) delivered a harsh warning…

4 hours ago

Under FBI Director Kash Patel, Agents Are Forced To Take Polygraph Tests To Root Out Leakers

FBI Director Kash Patel has made it clear that he intends to shape the organization in…

4 hours ago

Trump’s Net Worth Has Increased By $3 Billion This Year After Windfall From Crypto-Related Ventures

Within the past year, President Donald Trump’s net worth has increased by over $3 billion…

7 hours ago

20% Of Congress Is Over Age Of 70, Highest Mark In Modern History

As of January 2025, 119 members of Congress, approximately one-fifth of the legislative branch, were…

7 hours ago

After Rep. LaMonica McIver Is Indicted For Incident At ICE Detention Center, Democrats Say Trump Administration Is Trying To Intimidate Opponents

Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-New Jersey) was indicted on charges following an incident at an ICE…

8 hours ago