Trump defends supporters who chanted 'hang Mike Pence' on Jan. 6.


Former President Donald Trump in an interview defended supporters who threatened to "hang" his vice president on the day of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Speaking with ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl for his new book, Trump was asked if he was concerned about then-Vice President Mike Pence during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, as Pence had to be rushed to safety when Trump's supporters stormed the building.
"No, I thought he was well protected," Trump responded, per Axios. "And I heard that he was in good shape."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Karl pointed out there were "terrible" chants that day, including to "hang Mike Pence," but Trump said, "Well, the people were very angry."
Trump has claimed Pence should have taken steps to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Biden, but Pence affirmed on Jan. 6 that the Constitution does not give him the power to "determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not." Trump subsequently tweeted that Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done" as his supporters stormed the building to stop the election certification and the vice president sheltered from them on a loading dock in an underground parking garage. Trump was later impeached for inciting the Jan. 6 riot.
In his interview with Karl, which was conducted in March 2021, Trump also claimed it's "common sense" that Pence should have stopped the certification of the election results, asking, "How can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress?" There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. This was the latest revelation from Karl after it was reported that his book also reveals Trump threatened to leave the Republican Party in a call with Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel on his very last day as president.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Some mainstream Democrats struggle with Zohran Mamdani's surprise win
TALKING POINT To embrace or not embrace? A party in transition grapples with a rising star ready to buck political norms and energize a new generation.
-
How to make music part of your vacation
Let the rhythm move you
-
What is credit card churning and why is it risky?
the explainer Churners frequently open new credit cards with the intent of earning a welcome bonus and accessing other perks
-
Will NATO countries meet their new spending goal?
today's big question The cost of keeping Trump happy
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Bibi's back: what will Netanyahu do next?
Today's Big Question Riding high after a series of military victories, Israel's PM could push for peace in Gaza – or secure his own position with snap election
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders