Official White House press releases or Department of Justice announcements

Trump Promises 'A Lot of Action' for 'J6 Hostages,' Hints at Pardons for 758 Protesters

Jan 20, 2025, 06:40 PM

President Donald Trump, shortly after his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, hinted at imminent action regarding individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, whom he referred to as 'J6 hostages.' Speaking to supporters in the Capitol's Emancipation Hall after his inaugural address, Trump stated, 'I was going to talk about the J6 hostages, but you'll be happy because, you know, it's action, not words that count. And you're going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages—a lot.' Trump criticized the 'UnSelect Committee of political thugs' and accused former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others of destroying and deleting evidence related to the events of January 6. 'They destroyed and deleted all of the evidence,' he claimed. The president indicated that he had been advised against mentioning pardons in his inaugural address but suggested that measures would be taken soon. His comments, made around 1:31 p.m. in the overflow room, have fueled speculation about mass pardons for those prosecuted over the Capitol riot, with some observers noting that traders are expecting pardons for as many as 758 individuals today.