President Donald Trump’s blanket pardons handed out on “day one” of his presidency to those convicted of crimes on January 6 are vastly unpopular with the American people.
Even through Trump continues to spread the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him and that the January 6 protesters acted in “love,” most Americans don’t see it that way.
Amid a slew of executive orders ceremonially signed in front of admirers after his inauguration Jan. 20, Trump issued blanket pardons and commutations to the nearly 1,600 January 6 rioters federally charged with crimes associated with the attack on the U.S. Capitol. That included those convicted of violent crimes, including assaulting law enforcement officers. He also pardoned Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who had been convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 22 years in prison.
With this executive order, Trump undid four years of work by the U.S. Justice Department and other law enforcement agencies.
Alexis Loeb, a former federal prosecutor who supervised many riot cases, told The New York Times: “These pardons suggest that if you commit acts of violence, as long as you do so on behalf of a politically powerful person you may be able to escape consequences. They undermine — and are a blow to — the sacrifice of all the officers who put themselves in the face of harm to protect democracy on January 6.”
A December 2024 survey by YouGov conducted on behalf of the bipartisan States United Democracy Center found about two-thirds of Americans — including more than half of Republicans — disagree with pardoning violent January 6 protesters.
Respondents were asked: “As you may know, President Trump has said that he may pardon the people who were involved with the insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. How much do you agree or disagree with pardoning the following people involved with this event?”
- Those who violently assaulted police officers
- Those who committed violent crimes
- Those who committed nonviolent crimes
Respondents could say that they strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree, or that they didn’t know or weren’t sure how to respond.
Only 13% of those surveyed said they would support pardoning those who violently assaulted police officers, while 66% said they strongly disagree or somewhat disagree with such pardons.
Republicans were the most likely to express support for pardoning January 6 rioters, including those convicted of violent crimes, but still a majority of Republicans oppose pardons for violent offenders.
In a separate January 2025 survey by YouGov, only 32% of respondents said they strongly support or somewhat support pardoning January 6 participants. Support for pardons was more common among white males and Republicans.
While pardoning rioters who killed and maimed Capitol Police officers, Trump also signed an executive order calling for greater use of the death penalty for others who kill law enforcement officers.
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