On the afternoon of September 11, 2026, hours after attending the Pentagon's ceremony for the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Trump posted to Truth Social, in full and without comment, the roughly one-minute video he recorded on January 6, 2021, as his supporters were storming the Capitol. In it he repeats his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen (“We had an election that was stolen from us”) and tells the rioters, “We have to have peace. So go home, we love you, you're very special.”
The White House gave a reason the same day. A spokesperson told CNN the repost was “a reminder to everyone that what the Democrats did to weaponize the justice system against President Trump has been debunked thoroughly.” CNN noted it was unclear what cases the spokesperson meant: the criminal case against Trump over the Capitol attack was not debunked, but dismissed after he won the 2024 election. When the video first aired in 2021, it was criticized for coming hours after the attack began and for its sympathy toward the people storming the building.
Two days later, during a gaggle on Air Force One, a reporter asked what message he meant to send with the repost. “Well, I posted about 30,” Trump said. “Which one are you talking about?” The reporter explained, “You posted a video you took and posted on January 6th asking the rioters to go back home.” Trump asked, “The who?” When she repeated, “The rioters of January 6th of 2021,” he turned away and said, “I don't know what she's talking about.” HuffPost counted about a dozen posts and reposts from his account on September 11, and the video remained on his feed.
Several outlets described the exchange as Trump forgetting the video. The recording shows what he said, not why: it does not establish whether he did not recall the post, did not follow the question, or chose not to engage. The repost came the same day he appeared to doze at the Pentagon ceremony (see Trump Appears to Doze at the Pentagon's 25th Anniversary 9/11 Ceremony as the Names of the Dead Are Read) and the day after his convention pledge (see Trump's Convention Pledge to 'the Greatest President in the History of the United States' Included 'Cheat Like Hell'). For the attack itself, see January 6 Capitol Attack.