In a shocking display of political revisionism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. trivialized the January 6 insurrection during a recent appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show. Addressing an Anaheim audience as part of Carlson’s Live Show Tour, Kennedy downplayed the severity of the Capitol attack and suggested that even if MAGA fanatics had succeeded in burning down the Capitol, it wouldn’t have posed a serious threat to American democracy.
Kennedy said, “People broke the law on January 6, and they should be punished, but was the Republic really threatened?” He further provocatively claimed, “Even if a building is burned down, it’s not the end of the Republic. We have the U.S. military, functioning institutions, and Congress to resist any violent overthrow.”
This stance ignores the fact that such destruction could have led to the deaths of congressional members and a severe destabilization of democratic institutions. Despite the violence and chaos of that day, Kennedy argued, “I didn’t think we were close to a violent overthrow of the American government.”
Tucker Carlson, notorious for his controversial takes, endorsed Kennedy’s dangerous rhetoric with an emphatic “amen,” reflecting his agreement with the minimization of the Capitol attack.
Watch the full exchange below. (Kennedy’s comments on January 6 start at the 1:19:48 mark.)