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Trump Defends His Behavior on Jan. 6 With Familiar Lies During the Debate

Trump turned to one of his favorite villains to excuse his Jan. 6 behavior: Nancy Pelosi.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate. Gerald Herbert/AP

Former President Donald Trump denied a prominent role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol Thursday night, repeating a debunked lie about offering National Guard support to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi while also trying to avoid the issue entirely.

About a half hour into the debate, moderator Jake Tapper asked Trump what he would say to voters who believe he violated his presidential oath on Jan. 6 and fear he’d repeat his actions.

Trump initially avoided directly answering the question, instead going on a short spiel about America’s high points on Jan. 6.