Trump 'chose not to act' as mob attacked, Jan. 6 committee says

The committee said he did nothing to stop the Capitol assault for 187 minutes.

ByAlexandra Hutzler and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: July 22, 2022, 1:33 AM EDT

The House Jan. 6 committee's second prime-time hearing focused on what it said was then-President Donald Trump's "187 minutes" of inaction -- from the time he left the rally at the Ellipse, to then watching the attack on the U.S. Capitol on TV at the White House until he finally called on his violent supporters to go home.

Here is how the hearing unfolded:

Jul 21, 2022, 10:11 PM EDT

Panel airs new footage of urgent call between congressional leaders, defense secretary

Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., introduced what she called "never-before-seen" photos and videos of what lawmakers were doing during the attack.

Congressional leaders called then-acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller at 4:45 p.m. that day to regain control of the Capitol.

"We're not going to let these people keep us from finishing our business," GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell can be heard saying in a huddle of lawmakers. "So, we need you to get the building cleared, give us the okay so that we can go back in session and finish the peoples' business as soon as possible."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., then asked Miller if he agreed with one assessment that it was going to take "several days" to secure the area. Miller disagreed, stating it would take four to five hours.

At one point, Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Steny Hoyer grouped together taking a phone call about securing the Capitol.

PHOTO: A video of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer taking a phone call, is shown during a hearing to investigate the January 6th attack in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2022.
A video of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer taking a phone call about securing the US Capitol, is displayed on a screen during a hearing by the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2022.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Jul 21, 2022, 10:03 PM EDT

Trump went off-script in never-before-seen footage of Rose Garden message

When President Trump recorded his message in the Rose Garden more than three hours after rioters stormed the Capitol, he went "off the cuff," according to committee testimony.

PHOTO: A image of a final script for President Donald Trump to record in a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House on Jan. 6, is played as the House select committee holds a hearing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2022.
A image of a final script for President Donald Trump to record in a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House on Jan. 6, is played as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol holds a hearing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 21, 2022.
Patrick Semansky/AP

"His staff had prepared a script for him to read, but he refused to use it," Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., said.

The prepared script said, "NO ONE should be using violence or threats of violence to express themselves. Especially at the U.S. Capitol."

A video of former President Donald Trump plays on screen during a hearing by the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The committee shared raw footage from the recording, in which Trump told his supporters, "We love you. You're very special," while urging them to go home.

The committee juxtaposed the filming of this message with footage of the heavy violence still occurring on the Capitol at that moment.

Jul 21, 2022, 9:53 PM EDT

Kushner testifies that a 'scared' Kevin McCarthy asked for help during riot

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser, told the committee in taped deposition that House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy wanted help to stop the violence as rioters breached the U.S. Capitol building.

Kushner said McCarthy told him it was "getting really ugly."

"He was scared, yes," Kushner said of McCarthy's state of mind during their call.

The committee also discussed a tense phone call between Trump and McCarthy where Trump alleged it was Antifa at the Capitol -- an allegation that's been debunked by FBI Director Chris Wray and other intelligence officials. McCarthy told Trump it was "your people" and told him to call them off.

Jul 21, 2022, 9:40 PM EDT

Donald Trump Jr. texted that his father needed to 'condemn' riot

Text messages displayed by the committee show Donald Trump Jr. thought more needed to be done by his father besides his two tweets calling on rioters to "stay peaceful" even though violence had already begun.

Trump Jr. texted chief of staff Mark Meadows the message: "He's got to condemn this shit. Asap. The capitol police tweet isn't enough."

When Meadows responded that he was pushing hard for Trump to do so, Trump Jr. told him: "go to the mattresses." "They will try to f*** his entire legacy on this if it gets worse," Trump Jr. added.

An image of Donald Trump Jr is displayed on a screen during a hearing by the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2022.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Fox News personality Sean Hannity also texted Meadows to get Trump to instruct the mob to peacefully leave.

PHOTO: Text messages to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows from Laura Ingraham, Mick Mulvaney and Brian Kilmeade are displayed during the hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, July 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Text messages to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows from Laura Ingraham, Mick Mulvaney and Brian Kilmeade are displayed during the hearing of the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 21, 2022, in Washington, D.C.
Patrick Semansky/AP

Sarah Matthews, the former deputy press secretary, testified White House staff had to ask several times for the president to include the word "peaceful" in his tweet on Jan. 6. She said it wasn't until Ivanka Trump said "stay peaceful" that he decided to include it.

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