On January 6, 2017, when his fans marched through the United States Capitol yelling that Vice President Mike Pence should be hanged, President Donald Trump apparently gave the impression to advisors that he approved of the proposal.
Because he denied Trump’s call to try to obstruct Congressional certification of his electoral defeat, Pence had become a hate figure for many of the protesters.
According to leaked testimony to a House committee looking into the events of that day, Trump lamented that his vice president was being escorted to safety.
At one point Mark Meadows, his chief of staff, left the dining room off the Oval Office and suggested to other aides that the president had said something along the lines of perhaps Pence should indeed be hanged, according to the New York Times.
The comments will be seen as another example of the depth of the split between president and vice president – both possible contenders for the 2024 Republican nomination – over the 2020 election results.
The details were provided by at least one witness, according to two people familiar with the work of the January 6 committee as it prepares a timeline of the president’s day.
The newspaper said it was confirmed by Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Meadows.
Trump’s spokesman Taylor Budowich blasted the way the information had emerged.
‘This partisan committee’s vague ‘leaks,’ anonymous testimony and willingness to alter evidence proves it’s just an extension of the Democrat smear campaign that has been exposed time and time again for being fabricated and dishonest,’ he said.
Mark Meadows reportedly told colleagues about Trump’s comments
‘Americans are tired of the Democrat lies and the charades, but, sadly, it’s the only thing they have to offer.’
Pence and his team repeatedly told Trump that the vice president did not have the authority to block Joe Biden’s authority.
That led to a string of angry tweets from the president, as he proceeded to assert pressure on the day of the protests.
‘We want to be so respectful of everybody,’ Trump said in a defiant speech on the morning before the riot.
‘And we are going to have to fight much harder.
‘And Mike Pence is going to have to come through for us, and if he doesn’t, that will be a sad day for our country. Because you’re sworn to uphold our Constitution.’
Shortly afterwards his supporters marched on the Capitol.
A mock gallows was set up outside the building and protesters chanted: ‘Hang Mike Pence.’
Their words came to symbolize the split between Republicans who were loyal to the Constitution and those who had sworn blind loyalty to Trump.
Months later audio emerged of the former president defending the people responsible, saying they were simply angry about voter fraud allegations.
During a taped interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, obtained by Axios, Trump can be heard playing down the chanted threats.
In the clip, Karl initially asks whether Trump was worried about his vice president.