Donald Trump Just Made 'Sharply Self-Incriminating' Statement—Legal Analyst

During a Univision town hall on Wednesday, former President Donald Trump made a "sharply self-incriminating" statement, according to Glenn Kirschner, a legal analyst and former U.S. assistant attorney. Trump, the GOP nominee, answered questions from undecided Latino and Hispanic voters in Florida, a key swing state with a significant Hispanic population. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, participated in a similar town hall with Univision the week prior.

Topics ranged from abortion to immigration and the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Kirschner, in a YouTube video posted Thursday, highlighted Trump's remarks about the Capitol riot, where the former president used the "royal we" when discussing the insurrection, which Kirschner interpreted as self-incriminating. 

On January 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to halt Congress' certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. The riot, fueled by Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, resulted in the death of one rioter, Ashli Babbitt, and left numerous police officers injured. Kirschner pointed to a town hall exchange between Trump and Ramiro González, a former Republican and construction worker with Cuban heritage, who expressed discontent with Trump’s actions during the riot. González asked why Trump took so long to act as his supporters attacked the Capitol.

Trump responded, “Ashli Babbitt was killed. Nobody was killed. There were no guns down there. We didn’t have guns. The others had guns, but we didn’t have guns.” Kirschner noted that Trump’s phrasing, particularly the use of "we," aligned him with the rioters. This, he said, connected Trump directly with the insurrectionists.

However, Newsweek fact-checked Trump's claim, stating that several rioters were charged with firearms offenses. Notable figures like Guy Reffitt, Lonnie Coffman, and others have faced charges related to possessing firearms during the riot.

Meanwhile, Trump faces legal challenges, including a prosecution led by DOJ special counsel Jack Smith. Trump has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights, all tied to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has denied all charges, labeling the investigation as a political "witch hunt" aimed at interfering with the 2024 presidential election.