That same evening as president. Trump listened to the rally from
the Oval Office. He was also working on his speech to be delivered
the next day.
And based on documents we've received from the National Archives,
including multiple drafts of the president's speech, as well as from
witness testimony. We understand how that speech devolved into a
call to action and a call to fight.
One of the first edits president Trump made to his speech was to
incorporate his 505 PM tweet revising his speech to say all of us
are here today.
Do not want to see our election victory stolen by emboldened radical
left Democrats. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore.
He also added. Together we will stop the steal.
President Trump's edits continued into the morning of January, 6th.
And as you can see from the president's daily diary here.
The president spoke to his chief speechwriter, Stephen Miller, for
over 25 minutes that morning.
Following his call with Mr Miller.
President Trump inserted for the first time a line in his speech
that said, quote
And we will see whether Mike Pence enters history as a truly great
and courageous leader. All he has to do is refer that illegally submitted
electoral votes back to the states that were given false and fraudulent
information where they want to re certify.
No prior version of this speech had referenced vice president Pence
or his role during the joint session on January 6th.
These last minute, edits by President Trump to his speech were part
of the president's pressure campaign against his own vice president.
But not everyone wanted these lines regarding the vice president
included in the president's speech, including White House lawyer
Erik Hersman.
Did you ever speak to anybody in the White House at the time about
this disagreement between the president and vice president other
than the president, based on the objection from counsel?
Um
Mm. Maybe had a brief conversation about it with Erik Hersman.
Tell me about that. What do you remember him saying to you about
this disagreement?
I just remember him, Um, saying that.
That
He had a
Child. I don't know. Did this wrong Hope, sort of somebody effect
of, um
Thinking that would be counterproductive. I think he thought, too.
To discuss the matter publicly.
So it came up in the context of editing the president's speech on
January 6th
conversation where I knew it was in the speech, and so he had a ball
with me about it.
And so the speech writers took that advice and remove the lines about
vice president Pence.
Later that morning At 11 20 am President Trump had a phone call with
the vice president.
And as the committee detailed in an earlier hearing that phone call
was by all accounts tense and heated. During this call, the vice
president told the president that he would not attempt to change
the outcome of the election.
In response, the president called the vice president of the United
States, a wimp and other derogatory words.
As you can see, in this email after vice president Pence told President
Trump that he would not unilaterally deliver him a second term in
office. The speechwriters were directed to reinsert the Mike Pence
lines.
Here's how one of the speech writers described President Trump's
last minute change to the speech.
And as I recall, there was a very tough
Um, a tough sentence about the vice president. That was that was
was added.
President Trump wanted to use his speech to attack vice president
Pence in front of a crowd of thousands of angry supporters who had
been led to believe the election was stolen.
When President Trump arrived at the lips to deliver his speech, he
was still worked up from his call with vice president Pence. And
although Ivanka Trump would not say so, her chief of staff gave the
committee some insight into the president's frustration.
Been reported that you ultimately decided to attend the rally because
you hope that you would calm the president and keep the event on
an even keel is that accurate?
No, I I don't know who said that or where that came from. What does
she share with you about why it was concerning that her father was
upset or agitated after that call vice president Pence in relation
to the Ellipse rally.
Why did that matter?
Why did they have to be calmed down? I should say.
Well, she's shared that he had called the vice president and not
And it's like tip word.
I take that bothered her, and I think she could tell based on the
conversations and what was going on in the office.
That he was
Angry and upset and people were providing this information.
And she felt like
She might be able to help calm the situation down.
Ah, at least before he went on to stage.
The president did go on stage. And then he gave the speech that he
wanted to give. It included the formal changes he had requested the
night before, and in that morning, but also many important last minute.
Ad lib changes
A single scripted reference in the speech to Mike Pence, became eight.
A single scripted reference to rally goers marching to the capital
became for with President Trump ad living that he would be joining
the protesters at the Capitol.
Added Throughout his speech were references to fighting and the need
for people to have courage and be strong.
The word peacefully was in the staff written script and used only
once. Here are some of these ad lib changes that the president made
to his speech.
Because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have
to show strength and you have to be strong.
So I hope Mike has the courage to do what he has to do. And I hope
he doesn't listen to the rhinos and the stupid people that he's listening.
We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not
going to have a country anymore, but we're going to try and give
our Republicans
The weak ones because the strong ones don't need any of our help.
We're going to try and give them the kind of pride
And boldness that they need to take back our country.
So let's walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.
White House counsel Pat Sip. Aloni and his deputy did not attend
the speech. And they were concerned that the statements in the speech
about the election were false. In fact, the message that President
Trump delivered that day was built on a foundation of lies.
He lied to his supporters that the election was stolen.
He stoked their anger. He called for them to fight for him. He directed
them to the U. S. Capitol. He told them he would join them and his
supporters believed him and many headed towards the capital.
As a result, people died.
People were injured. Many of his supporters lives will never be the
same.
President Trump's former campaign manager, Brad Parscale recognize
the impact of the speech immediately and this is what he said on
January 6th and excerpts from text messages to Katrina Pierson.
Mr Purse, Cal said quote. This is about Trump pushing for uncertainty
in our country, a sitting president asking for civil war.
And then when he said this week, I feel guilty for helping him win.
Katrina, Pierson responded.
You did what you felt right at the time, and therefore it was right.
Mr Personality, added. Yeah, but a woman is dead. And yeah, if I
was trump and I knew my rhetoric killed someone
When Miss Pearson replied. It wasn't the rhetoric, Mr Pascal said
Katrina Yes, it was