Trump's planned Jan. 6 speech has top Republicans fretting


Top Republicans are expressing unease after former President Donald Trump announced his plan to deliver a speech on the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot in which he will reiterate his baseless claims that Democrats engaged in a widespread campaign of voter fraud to steal the 2020 election.
Republican Senators Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Pat Toomey (Pa.), John Cornyn (Texas), Tim Scott (S.C.), and John Thune (S.D.) all either declined to comment on the upcoming speech or said it would be an unwelcome distraction from more important issues, Politico reported Tuesday.
"I don't think that's a good idea," said Moore Capito. "I think the country has moved on," said Cornyn. Toomey said the event isn't a "terribly good idea," but remarked, "What am I going to do about it?," per Politico.
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.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), a frequent critic of the former president, said Sunday on Face the Nation it was "very concerning" but "not surprising" that Trump would continue to repeat claims that "caused violence," Newsweek reported.
Alyssa Farah, who served as director of strategic communications for the Trump administration, told CNN that Jan. 6 would be "a wise day for [Trump] to stay silent."
These remarks are indicative of an ongoing tension within the GOP. Most Republican lawmakers are unwilling to openly defy Trump, who remains a powerful kingmaker and, should he run, the party's likely 2024 nominee. At the same time, many are also hesitant to offer their full-throated support to the former president's stolen election claims.
Trump announced the speech in a Dec. 21 statement posted on his official website, pledging to address the "rigged" election. He also criticized Republicans who refuse to pursue investigations based on his claims of voter fraud. "In many ways a RINO is worse than a Radical Left Democrat," he wrote.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are also scheduled to deliver remarks, doubtless of a very different tenor, on Jan. 6.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.
-
Colleges are canceling affinity graduations amid DEI attacks but students are pressing on
In the Spotlight The commencement at Harvard University was in the news, but other colleges are also taking action
-
When did computer passwords become a thing?
The Explainer People have been racking their brains for good codes for longer than you might think
-
What to know before 'buying the dip'
the explainer Purchasing a stock once it has fallen in value can pay off — or cost you big
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Trump's super-charged pardon push raises eyebrows and concerns
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Never shy about using his pardon ability for political leverage, Trump's spate of amnesty announcements suggests the White House is taking things to a new level
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs