Page:Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.pdf/565



In speaking with staff, he still seemed optimistic that “Congress would take some sort of action in his favor.” The White House photographer, who was also in attendance, recalled that President Trump again remarked that he should go to the Capitol the next day, and even asked about the best route to get there. The President peppered staff for ideas concerning how “we could make the RINOs do the right thing” and make the next day “big.” Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews, who was present in the Oval Office that evening, understood that President Trump wanted to get Republican Members of Congress to send the electoral votes back to the States, rather than certify the election. Matthews recalled that initially no one spoke up in response, since they were trying to “process” what he had said.

Eventually, Deere suggested that President Trump should focus his speech on his administration’s accomplishments, rather than on his claim that the election had been stolen. But the President told Deere that while they had accomplished a lot, the crowd was going to be “fired up” and “angry” the next day because they believed the election had been stolen and was rigged. President Trump knew the crowd was angry because he could hear them. Of course, President Trump was responsible, more than any other party, for ginning up their anger.

President Trump ended the evening by asking an aide how many people were going to be at the rally. The aide responded that he was not sure but