Trump Admits Desire to Attend Capitol on Jan. 6

Former President Donald J. Trump admitted on Wednesday that he had asked his Secret Service detail to take him to the Capitol after his speech at the Ellipse on Jan. 6, 2021. This revelation sheds light on his actions that day, which have been under scrutiny by the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol.

During a campaign rally in Waukesha, Wis., Mr. Trump discussed a disputed element of testimony given to the House Jan. 6 committee by a Trump White House aide. The aide claimed that Mr. Trump had physically struggled with Secret Service agents when they refused to take him to join the crowd of supporters marching toward the Capitol.

Mr. Trump recounted the conversation with the agents, stating that he expressed his desire to go to the Capitol but ultimately deferred to their judgment. President Biden’s campaign quickly seized on Mr. Trump’s comments, emphasizing that he had intended to participate in the attack on the Capitol in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

This is not the first time Mr. Trump has spoken about his desire to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6. He has previously expressed regret for not marching with his supporters and has blamed his Secret Service detail for preventing him from doing so.

In a recent interview with Time magazine, Mr. Trump hinted at the possibility of pardoning individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol attack and did not rule out the potential for political violence after future elections. His comments have reignited concerns about his role in the events of Jan. 6 and the impact of his rhetoric on his supporters.