On the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a pointed statement on social media, framing the event as a direct consequence of Donald Trump’s actions and a profound betrayal of his office.
Clinton shared a collage of newspaper front pages from January 7, 2021, which collectively portrayed the event as an insurrection incited by the then-president. The accompanying text stated: “Five years ago today, Donald Trump urged his supporters to attack Congress and the Capitol over a proven lie. More than 140 police officers were injured. Trump then pardoned the attackers. He betrayed his oath and his country, and we won’t ever forget it.”
The statement references two specific, factual claims. First, the figure of more than 140 injured police officers is corroborated by reports from organizations including the Police Executive Research Forum, which documented the extensive physical injuries sustained by Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers during the violent breach.
Second, Clinton’s claim that Trump “pardoned the attackers” refers to his executive actions taken upon his inauguration for a second term on January 20, 2025. On that date, President Trump issued blanket pardons to nearly 1,600 defendants charged in connection with the January 6 riot, fulfilling a campaign promise to those he has repeatedly called “hostages” and “patriots.”
Clinton’s commemoration centers on the assertion that the attack was predicated on a “proven lie”—the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen—which was actively promoted by Trump and his allies. By linking the incitement, the violence, and the subsequent pardons, the message presents a continuous narrative of what she characterizes as a dereliction of duty.
The post serves as a stark political marker, emphasizing that for many, the events of January 6 remain a defining and unforgotten moment of crisis. It underscores the deep and enduring divisions over the interpretation of that day, from those who view it as an insurrection to those who downplay its severity. Clinton’s final declaration, “we won’t ever forget it,” signals an intent to keep the anniversary and its attendant accusations at the forefront of the nation’s political memory.
