Fact Check: Trump’s Claim About Pelosi and the National Guard on January Sixth

Well, folks, it’s and you know what that means: election season is back in full swing! And who better to kick things off than former President Donald Trump, serving up his signature blend of truth-adjacent claims? This time, he’s set his sights on January sixth, specifically on the role of then-Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Trump’s latest assertion? That Pelosi herself admitted to turning down National Guard troops on that fateful day. He’s waving around a snippet of video footage like it’s a smoking gun, claiming it proves Pelosi is the real villain of this whole January sixth saga. But let’s hit the brakes for a sec, shall we? Because there’s one teensy, tiny problem with Trump’s narrative: it’s completely bogus. Pelosi never had the authority to accept or refuse National Guard deployment in the first place.

Where’s the “Evidence” in This Fact Check?

The supposed “evidence” for Trump’s claim comes from a rather unlikely source: the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. They released a short, sweet, and oh-so-carefully curated clip from footage taken by Alexandra Pelosi, the former Speaker’s daughter, on January sixth. Now, before you get too excited, the full footage is still locked up tighter than Fort Knox.

So, what does this earth-shattering clip actually show? Well, we see Pelosi discussing the planned movements of protesters with Capitol Police, based on the intel they had at the time. We see her expressing frustration – and let’s be real, who wouldn’t be frustrated? – about the lack of preparedness for a potential security breach. And we see her taking responsibility for the fact that they weren’t as prepared as they should have been.

But here’s the kicker: nowhere in this cherry-picked clip does Pelosi say anything even remotely resembling “Nah, we’re good on those National Guard troops.” In fact, a more extensive review of minutes of footage, conducted by none other than Politico, directly contradicts the GOP’s attempts to pin the blame on Pelosi.

Unpacking the January Sixth Puzzle

Pelosi’s Lack of Authority Over National Guard Deployment

Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? The idea that Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, had the power to single-handedly greenlight or veto National Guard deployment is about as accurate as saying a goldfish could win a marathon.

The chain of command for National Guard deployment in Washington D.C. is about as clear-cut as it gets. And guess what? The Speaker of the House is not on that list. We’re talking legal statutes, historical precedents, the whole shebang – all pointing to the fact that this decision was way above Pelosi’s pay grade.

Deciphering Pelosi’s Words

Okay, so if Pelosi wasn’t rejecting the National Guard, what was she actually saying in that clip? Well, if you listen to her tone and pay attention to her actual words – revolutionary, I know! – it’s clear that her frustration stemmed from a severe lack of information and a distinct lack of preparedness for the chaos that was about to unfold.

Imagine this: you’re in charge of a big event, and you’re repeatedly told everything’s A-okay, no need to worry. Then, suddenly, things go sideways, and it turns out nobody bothered to hire enough security guards. Are you going to be thrilled? Are you going to be singing “Kumbaya”? Probably not. You’re going to be frustrated, maybe even a little angry, that you weren’t given the full picture.

The Curious Case of the Republican Investigation

Now, let’s talk about this so-called “investigation” by the House Oversight Committee. This is the same committee, mind you, that seems hell-bent on proving that January sixth was just a bunch of tourists taking a wrong turn and accidentally ending up in the Capitol building.

So, they get their hands on this treasure trove of footage from Alexandra Pelosi, and what do they do? They release a tiny snippet, completely devoid of context, that seems to support their pre-existing narrative. And the rest of the footage? Locked away tighter than a drum. Makes you wonder what they’re so afraid of, doesn’t it?

Politico’s Independent Take on the January Sixth Footage

Now, before anyone starts shouting “fake news,” let’s be clear: Politico isn’t exactly known for being a left-leaning propaganda machine. They’ve built a reputation for fair, unbiased reporting, which is probably why they’re considered a go-to source for political junkies across the spectrum.

So, what did Politico find when they got their hands on a cool minutes of the Pelosi footage? Well, their analysis blew a massive hole in the GOP’s carefully constructed narrative. According to Politico’s report, “The footage undermines claims by Republicans that Pelosi… deliberately withheld National Guard troops ahead of the attack.”

Mic drop.

Trump’s Tall Tales: A January Sixth Pattern

Look, we all know Trump has a bit of a…flexible relationship with the truth. But his persistent attempts to rewrite the history of January sixth are more than just your average political spin. This is about deliberately distorting a dangerous and traumatic event to fit his own narrative, and frankly, it’s downright irresponsible.

By pinning the blame on Pelosi, Trump is engaging in a classic diversion tactic. He’s trying to deflect attention away from his own role in the events of that day – the incendiary rhetoric, the baseless claims of election fraud, the relentless pressure campaign on his own vice president – and instead, he’s painting himself as the victim.

The problem is, the truth has a funny way of coming out. And the more evidence that emerges, the more ridiculous Trump’s claims become.

Safeguarding Truth in the Age of Misinformation

In a world where misinformation spreads faster than wildfire on a windy day, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant. We can’t just blindly accept everything we hear, especially when it comes from sources with a vested interest in distorting the truth.

So, the next time you come across a juicy political claim, especially one as explosive as this, take a moment to ask yourself: Who benefits from this narrative? What’s the source of this information? And most importantly, does it actually hold water?

Because the truth – messy, complicated, and sometimes inconvenient as it may be – is the only foundation upon which we can build a just and equitable society.