Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz Will Hold Jan. 6 ‘Republican Response’ After Trump Drops Press Conference

Topline

Two of Congress’ most outspoken backers of former President Donald Trump’s false voter fraud claims plan to address the media on the first anniversary of the U.S. Capitol riot Thursday, announcing the briefing after Trump called off a planned news conference to mark the date.

Key Facts

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said in a news release that she and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) plan to hold a “Republican response to expose the truth about the January 6, 2021 protests.”

Solemn events, including a moment of silence on the House floor and a candlelight vigil on the National Mall, are planned throughout the day Thursday in Washington, D.C.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the nation at 6 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, in a speech expected to place the blame for the January 6 rioting directly on Trump.

The Greene-Gaetz press briefing is planned for 2:15 p.m.

Key Background

Trump had planned to hold his own news conference on January 6 to rehash claims of election fraud, which inspired his supporters to launch the deadly assault on the Capitol one year earlier, but called off the presser after fellow Republicans expressed concerns about the idea. Greene and Gaetz, widely viewed as two of the most far-right members of Congress, have shown sympathy for many of the rioters, and have attempted to visit the D.C. jail where some riot defendants are being held, to inspect conditions at the facility. Gaetz notably spread a conspiracy theory on the House floor just hours after the attack, claiming that some of the rioters may have been “antifa terrorists.” Greene, meanwhile, has recently compared the riot at the Capitol to the Declaration of Independence, saying it was an attempt to “overthrow tyrants.”

Tangent

As time passes, right-wing condemnation of the attack has gradually been replaced by conspiracy theories. Tucker Carlson, a Fox News primetime host who anchors the most popular show on cable news, released a three-part series in October called “Patriot Purge.” The series repeated the baseless claim that the January 6 attack was a “false flag” operation actually orchestrated by the government–a notion that has been repeatedly debunked.

Further Reading

Trump Calls Off Press Conference On Capitol Attack Anniversary (Forbes)

Trump Plans Press Conference On Jan. 6 Anniversary To Rehash Fraud Claims (Forbes)