During a Univision town hall on Wednesday, Donald Trump stood by his controversial characterization of the January 6 Capitol attack, calling it a “day of love” where “nothing” was “done wrong,” despite the violent actions of his supporters and the assaults on law enforcement officers.
The event was a part of his campaign’s outreach to Latino voters and featured undecided registered voters, some of whom did not speak English. One notable exchange came from Ramiro González, a 56-year-old construction worker from Tampa, Florida, who raised concerns about the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and Trump’s conduct during the riot.
The voter explained that while he used to be a registered Republican, Trump’s actions—or lack thereof—during the January 6 incident had left him disturbed. He also pointed out that members of Trump’s own administration have since distanced themselves from him.
“I want to give you the opportunity to try to win back my vote. OK?” said the voter.
“Your — I’m going to say — action and maybe inaction during your presidency, and the last few years, sort of, was a little disturbing to me. What happened Jan. 6 and the fact that, you know, you waited so long to take action while your supporters were attacking the Capitol. … I’m curious how people so close to you and your administration no longer want to support you, so why would I want to support you? If you would answer these questions for me, I would really appreciate it and give you the opportunity. You know, your own vice president doesn’t want to support you now.”
In response to González’s question, Trump criticized former Vice President Mike Pence, stating that he disagreed with Pence’s decision to certify the 2020 election results. Trump also reiterated his familiar narrative, describing the events of January 6 as a “a day of love” and distancing himself from responsibility.
He recalled addressing a group of “hundreds of thousands”, apparently referring to his speech outside the White House shortly before the riot.
“They didn’t come because of me — they came because of the election. They thought the election was rigged, and that’s why they came,” Trump said. He further added, “There were no guns down there. We didn’t have guns. The others had guns, but we didn’t have guns,” a statement that has been fact-checked and proven false.
“And when I say we, these are people that walked down – this was a tiny percentage of the overall which nobody sees and nobody, nobody shows. But that was a day of love from the standpoint of millions.”
After the town hall, Univision followed up with González to ask for his thoughts on Trump’s response. González, who had watched extensive coverage of the January 6 attack, firmly stated, “I am not going to vote for Trump.”
Q: Did you receive the answer you were looking for from Trump?
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 17, 2024
Undecided voter: No
Q: You came here undecided to this town hall. Have you made a decision?
Undecided voter: I am not going to vote for Trump https://t.co/LHAsYkjdkb pic.twitter.com/EeEzzrDUOx
Q: I am a Republican, but no longer registered. I was disturbed by January 6. People from your own administration don't support you. Your own Vice President doesn’t support you. So why would I want to support you?
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 17, 2024
Trump: I totally disagree with Mike Pence for certifying the… pic.twitter.com/ttBjL6W8uQ
Jan. 6 committee’s final report earlier this year asserted that Donald Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol, concluding an extraordinary 18-month investigation into the former president and the violent insurrection two years ago.
Trump “lit that fire,” the committee’s chairman, Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, wrote.
The 814-page report released earlier this year came after the panel interviewed more than 1,000 witnesses, held 10 hearings and obtained more than a million pages of documents. The witnesses — ranging from many of Trump’s closest aides to law enforcement to some of the rioters themselves — detailed Trump’s “premeditated” actions in the weeks ahead of the attack and how his wide-ranging efforts to overturn his defeat directly influenced those who brutally pushed past the police and smashed through the windows and doors of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The central cause was “one man,” the report said: Trump.