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 that the election was “rigged,” and encouraging his supporters to “fight” and “be strong.” President Trump also urged Vice President Pence to act illegally before the electoral count began, tweeting at 8:17 AM on the morning of January 6, 2021, “States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval. All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!”

President Trump had also already scheduled a rally for the day that Congress was assembled to finalize the election results, set up within walking distance of the Capitol, dubbed the “Save America Rally.” The title and location of the rally further underscored the President’s messaging to his supporters that it was their patriotic duty to stop the electoral count.

The Save America Rally commenced at approximately 9:00 AM. Shortly before the President spoke, his attorney Rudy Giuliani reiterated the President’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was not a “clean election,” and ended by urging the crowd to “have trial by combat.” The President’s son, Donald Trump Jr., also spoke, warning Republican congressmembers who did not support his father that “we’re coming for you.”

At approximately 11:57 AM, the President addressed the crowd for over an hour, concluding at roughly 1:11 PM. The President falsely insisted yet again that Democrats had “stolen” the election, and that his supporters instead should “fight much harder” to “stop the steal” and “take back our country” at the Capitol. Although at one point he suggested that those marching to the Capitol should do so “peacefully,” the overall tenor of his speech was menacing—and, as subsequent events showed, was understood by his supporters as such.