President Donald Trump promises to pardon ‘J6 hostages’

Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will pardon people charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot, calling them “hostages” while flanked by the families of people taken hostage by Hamas as militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

The jarring juxtaposition came moments after Steve Witkoff, Trump’s appointee for special envoy for peace in the Middle East, introduced the relatives, some of whom are seeking the return of remains of their loved ones who were killed while held captive.

“Tonight I’m going to be signing on the J6 hostages, pardons, to get them out,” Trump said, using a shorthand for people charged with crimes for their



alleged actions on January 6, 2021. “And as soon as I leave, I’m going to the Oval Office and we’ll be signing pardons for a lot of people. A lot of people,” he said.

Trump went on to welcome home people who were released by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, which was finalised in the waning days of Joe Biden’s administration.

Trump also talked about how the Israel-Hamas war wouldn’t have happened had he been in office instead of Biden. He appeared to mix up that conflict with Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Three years. It’s ridiculous,” Trump said. The Israeli conflict occurred not even 18 months ago.