Former President Donald Trump is back on the road, holding a rally Saturday in Conroe, where he urged his supporters to protest against January 6 prosecutors. Thousands attended the “Save America Rally,” with Christine Aguayo from KTSM reporting that some out-of-state supporters had camped out several nights before the event.
After being introduced as the “45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States,” Trump gave a speech that has prompted numerous headlines. Trump stated that he believes those associated with the January 6 protest should be treated “fairly,” adding, “If it requires pardons, we will give them pardons because they are being treated so unfairly.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appeared, then Dan Patrick, who spoke about socialism. The last guest to speak before Trump was Governor Greg Abbott, who was careful not to directly endorse the “big lie,” the “voting fraud” that Trump and others have vocally alleged and denounced.
The biggest revelation of the night was the promise that Trump would offer pardons for January 6 protesters, if he were elected in 2024. Trump also reiterated his belief that the 2020 election was fraudulent. “The press is the enemy of the people…the corrupt media will destroy our country,” Trump stated.
Trump’s rally and comments evoked pushback from both sides of the political aisle. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted, “Trump dangling pardons for convicted insurrectionists who stormed our Capitol is an abject rejection of the rule of law.”
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham commented on CBS News, “I don’t want to send any signal that it was OK to defile the Capitol,” adding that Trump’s pardon suggestion was “inappropriate.”
Despite being a fellow member of the Republican Party, Graham has had a mixed past with Trump, the New York Times writes. Graham has previously condemned the similar actions of Vice President Harris, who had pardoned offenders during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations.
Trump finished by placing the blame for the current rocky state of external affairs on President Biden. From the supply chain issues to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he delivered claims that these issues would be solved under his administration.
“If you care about your future and your family and your country, you have no choice. This November you have to throw these raving lunatics the hell out of power and elect strong, smart, tough Republicans who can restore your borders, protect your safety, defend your jobs and put America first,” said Trump.
