Former President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he directed Secret Service agents to transport him to the US Capitol on January 6. However, his account of the events differs significantly from the testimony provided by his former aide.
In June 2022, Cassidy Hutchinson, who previously worked as an aide to Mark Meadows, the chief of staff of the Trump administration, testified before Congress. Hutchinson revealed that during the incident when a mob of rioters stormed the building, former President Trump had insisted that Secret Service agents escort him to the Capitol.
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According to the woman, the agents declined her request, and she claimed that the then-president made a sudden movement towards the steering wheel of the car.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump took a break from his criminal trial in Manhattan to hold a rally in Wisconsin. During the rally, he shared his account of what transpired on that day, acknowledging that he did indeed insist on being taken to the Capitol.
“I chose to sit in the back,” he stated, before expressing his desire to the Secret Service agents, “I would like to go down there as I see many people walking in that direction.”
According to Mr. Trump, the agents insisted, “Sir, it’s better if you don’t.”
Mr. Trump insisted, “Well, I would like to.”
The Secret Service strongly advised against doing so, he said.
Mocking Ms. Hutchinson’s claims of him attacking the agents, Mr. Trump dismissed her accusations.
Throughout the car ride, he maintained that he had been speaking in a gentle tone.
During his speech in Wisconsin, he addressed the accusation that he attacked a Secret Service agent in the front of the car, stating, “Remember the person that said I attacked a Secret Service agent in the front of the car? It’s not my deal. I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
He went on to describe previous accounts of the incident as “crazy stuff,” without mentioning her by name.
According to the White House aide’s testimony to the January 6 House select Committee, she claimed that she had heard Mr. Trump say to Bobby Engel, the head of his Secret Service detail, “something like, ‘I’m the f***ing president, take me up to the Capitol now.'”
During her testimony, Ms. Hutchinson informed the committee that Mr. Engel responded by saying, “Sir, we have to return to the West Wing.” She further stated that the president reached up and attempted to grab the steering wheel from the front of the vehicle.
As the events unfolded, Mr. Engel took decisive action by firmly gripping his arm and urging him to release his hold on the steering wheel. He made it clear that they were diverting their course back to the West Wing, emphasizing that they would not be proceeding to the Capitol.
An unnamed Secret Service agent, who was driving the car at the time, provided testimony that echoed Ms. Hutchinson’s account.
According to a transcript from the January 6 panel, the driver reported that the president was determined to go to the Capitol.
According to the witness, it was evident that he desired to go to the Capitol. He was not shouting at Mr. Engel or me. Although his voice was elevated, it did not give the impression that he was furious. In fact, he seemed less irritated or agitated compared to earlier when we were heading towards the Ellipse.
