In a video deposition released by the House Select Committee on Tuesday, former Secretary of Defense Chris Miller testified that Donald Trump’s claim that he ordered 10,000 troops to defend the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a lie.
The day after the attack on the US Capitol, Trump boasted in a videotaped statement that he “immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement” to secure the building. But Miller testified under oath that he was “never given any direction or order or knew of any plans of that nature,” and he added that he was “surprised” to see statements suggesting Trump made those orders.
“There was no order from the president,” he said.
Miller added that any plans of activating more soldiers to protect the Capitol were mere “contingency planning,” but it was not set in motion.
“There was no official message traffic or anything of that nature,” Miller told House investigators. “That was not part of my plan or the Department of Defense’s plan.”
Watch the video and some of the reactions below:
To remove any doubt: Not only did Donald Trump fail to contact his Secretary of Defense on January 6th (as shown in our hearing), Trump also failed to give any order prior to January 6 to deploy the military to protect the Capitol.
Here is Secretary Miller’s testimony— pic.twitter.com/joucnUHvBB
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) July 26, 2022
“What we aren’t gonna do, Bret, is blame the Capitol Police — blame those in law enforcement — for Donald Trump’s armed mob that he sent to the Capitol.”
Liz Cheney Fox ‘News’ Sunday 7/24/22
Baier asked if @January6thCmte is investigating Pelosi & Police:pic.twitter.com/T9SAWDqMw8 https://t.co/BpB2cucvzr
— Adam Rifkin 🐼🌻 (@ifindkarma) July 26, 2022
He’s going down.
— Jay Arnold (@jadedcreative) July 26, 2022
You gonna touch on his accomplices in congress or what?https://t.co/8AwThDJ2ox
— Kyle 😷 Ruggles 🇨🇦 ✊ 🇵🇸 🇺🇦🌎 (@kyleruggles) July 26, 2022
Taking a step back, it's startling to think that Trump, just 24 hours after a violent mob storms the Capitol, was sitting in the White House editing his speech–and he's not trying to find the words to mend our democracy, he's trying make sure that he doesn't offend the rioters.
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) July 26, 2022
All of which makes Benedict Donald an accessory to the crime. https://t.co/igHeCdLhrY
— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 26, 2022
Everyone keepin track of the BS excuses for trump's incitement of insurrection we've been fed so far?
BLM did it
Antifa did it
Dems did it
FBI did it
Capitol cops did it
It took place during the transition so no foul
All Americans are to blame
Media hoax
It never happened
Pardons
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) July 26, 2022
