The website praises President Donald Trump as a hero for pardoning nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack|Tyler Merbler|CC BY 2.0
The White House on Tuesday launched a new website that revises the history of the January 6, 2021, attack on Capitol Hill, drawing criticism from Democrats and former officials who say it distorts a violent assault on American democracy.
The site reflects President Donald Trump’s years-long effort to recast the day when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol to block certification of former President Joe Biden’s election victory. It portrays those who stormed the Capitol as victims and praises Trump as a hero for pardoning nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack.
The website repeats the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen and omits widely documented evidence of rioters assaulting police and breaching the building.
It also falsely claims that no law enforcement officers died during the attack, ignoring US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died a day later after being assaulted.
Trump faced four criminal indictments in 2023 related to the attack, but the case was dropped after his 2024 reelection. Critics say the site whitewashes a deadly riot that injured about 140 officers and deepens political divisions.