Donald Trump is facing fierce backlash after suggesting that rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, should be financially compensated. The former president, who has already pardoned around 1,500 of the rioters, hinted at the possibility of giving them cash in an interview with Newsmax host Greg Kelly.
Trump spoke about the pardons he issued to the rioters, many of whom were convicted of violent crimes like assaulting police officers. “These people are incredible people,” Trump said. “They were treated so unfairly, so horribly.”
When Kelly asked about the possibility of a compensation fund for the rioters, Trump didn’t shut it down, instead suggesting it’s a real topic of discussion. “There’s talk about that. We have a lot of people talk about it, a lot of the people that are in the government now talk about it because a lot of the people in government really like that group of people,” he said. “They were patriots as far as I was concerned.”
He quickly shifted focus, bragging about the crowd size at the rally that day, but the suggestion of paying off people who tried to overturn the election, assaulted police, and vandalized the Capitol, did not sit well with critics.
On social media, backlash was swift:
“DOGE is firing veterans and this guy wants to do what? … For Maga, crime does pay,” wrote Ralph Sagola.
“We should vote on this. They should demand a vote on this,” said Brian Schatz.
“There’s not enough money for Grandma’s Social Security payments,” added Julia Davis.
“Paying off thugs for assaulting police and hunting down members of Congress is a Fascist move. Mussolini had his blackshirts on secret police payrolls to reward them for past violence,” commented Ruth Ben-Ghiat.
Others pointed out the hypocrisy of cutting benefits for everyday Americans while possibly rewarding criminals:
“Many of these insurrectionists are criminals in life. Underage sexual predators. Wife beaters. Cop abusers. Trump is nuts,” wrote Jumbo Elliott.
“Good news: All that money we saved by cutting the VA, Social Security, and national parks… Well, we’re going to give it to the guy who tased a cop and the guy who took a shit on Nancy Pelosi’s desk. The adults are back in charge!” wrote @Wilson__Valdez.
“Firing veterans and gutting healthcare while financially compensating violent criminals and golfing at his country club,” fired back Melanie D’Arrigo.
Eric Garcia simply said, “Terrorists! They are terrorists.”
Trump’s comments sparked outrage and raised serious questions about his views on justice and who deserves to be rewarded.
See Trump’s interview below from Newsmax:
Trump says he's looking at setting up some sort of government "compensation fund" for the January 6 criminals that he pardoned pic.twitter.com/3UUeRiNEKo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2025
