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President Trump has often defended the “J6 patriots,” many of whom have spent or are currently spending time in jail for their alleged part in the 2021 protests that took place at the U.S. Capitol.
In a new interview with TIME magazine, the president reiterated his support for those peaceful protesters, telling the outlet that he would “absolutely” consider pardoning the “J6 patriots” in a prospective 2025 administration.
Aside from his support for those protestors who are doing hard time for what may or may not have occurred at the U.S. Capitol three years ago, Trump projected confidence ahead of the 2024 general election, casting a vision of victory.
He stated, “I think we’re going to win. And if we don’t win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election.”
The full transcript of TIME’s interview revealed the scope of his comments, in which writer Eric Cortellessa asked whether there would be “violence” upon a potential negative outcome in November for the president.
Trump’s response was measured:
“Well, I do think we’re gonna win. We’re way ahead. I don’t think they’ll be able to do the things that they did the last time, which were horrible. Absolutely horrible. So many, so many different things they did, which were in total violation of what was supposed to be happening. And you know that and everybody knows that. We can recite them, go down a list that would be an arm’s long. But I don’t think we’re going to have that. I think we’re going to win. And if we don’t win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election. I don’t believe they’ll be able to do the things that they did the last time. I don’t think they’ll be able to get away with it. And if that’s the case, we’re gonna win in record-setting fashion.”
In his comments, Trump was broadly referring to his belief that the 2020 election was stolen, and whether the 2024 election would reflect “fairness” or not.
