CNN Fact-Check Debunks Trump’s Claims About Pelosi, National Guard, and January 6 Riot

President Donald Trump’s latest remarks about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the January 6 Capitol riot, and the 2020 election came under scrutiny Wednesday as CNN’s Daniel Dale delivered a pointed fact-check of the president’s recurring claims.

“A lot of golden oldies there in terms of false claims by President Trump,” remarked CNN anchor Jake Tapper before Dale dissected Trump’s comments made earlier from the Oval Office.

One of Trump’s primary assertions was that Pelosi rejected his alleged offer of 10,000 National Guard troops to respond to the Capitol riot. Dale unequivocally dismissed this claim, stating, “That is not true at all. That’s not what the tape shows.”

Dale explained that while Pelosi was recorded on January 6 by her filmmaker daughter saying, “I take responsibility for not having them prepare more,” this statement referred to Capitol security in general, not an acknowledgment of any specific offer from Trump.

“Nothing in that general statement is a specific admission that Trump made some sort of offer to her,” Dale clarified. “In fact, she has steadfastly denied that he ever made such an offer to her, not admitted it, denied it.”

Moreover, Dale highlighted a critical procedural point: “It wouldn’t even have made sense. It is the president, not the House Speaker, who is the commander of the D.C. National Guard. So, even if he had made such an offer to her, she would not have had the power to turn it down.”

Dale also debunked Trump’s claim that January 6 rioters were protesting a “crooked election,” rejecting the framing entirely. “You hardly need me to fact-check this,” Dale said, emphasizing, “But no, they were rioting because they were denying the results of a legitimate election.”

Trump’s comments continue to reignite debates over the events of January 6 and his role in perpetuating falsehoods about the 2020 election. CNN’s fact-check underscores the persistent effort to challenge misinformation, particularly as Trump repeatedly returns to these claims in his public statements.

By dissecting these remarks, Dale provided a clear reminder of the facts: Pelosi did not reject any National Guard offer, and the rioters’ actions were driven by false claims about election fraud, not legitimate grievances.