Fact check: What did the January 6th Committee conclude about National Guard deployment?

1. Summary of the results

The January 6th Committee's conclusions about National Guard deployment reveal a complex and contested narrative. The official committee concluded that Trump did not order National Guard deployment on January 6th itself, based on official records and witness testimony ^[1]. However, there are conflicting claims about pre-January 6th preparations, with some sources indicating Trump requested 10,000 National Guard troops days before the event ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements need to be considered:

• Authority and Chain of Command: Only the president, defense secretary, and Army secretary had the authority to activate the DC National Guard - not members of Congress, including Nancy Pelosi ^[1]
• Timeline of Events:
• Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund allegedly requested National Guard support on January 3rd but was rejected by House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving due to "optics" concerns ^[2]
• The first National Guard members didn't arrive until 5:40 PM, after most violence had subsided ^[3]
• Defense Department officials maintain that Capitol Police did not request troops prior to the event ^[3]
• Documentation: Chairman Barry Loudermilk released a timeline compiled from multiple official sources, including DoD, USCP, and DCNG timelines ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

There are clear partisan divisions in how this information is presented:

• Republican narrative: Emphasizes alleged pre-event requests by Trump and suggests Democrat officials and Pentagon leadership delayed deployment due to "optics" concerns ^{[2] [5]}
• Democrat/Committee narrative: Focuses on Trump's lack of action on January 6th itself and emphasizes the official chain of command ^[1]
• Institutional perspective: The Defense Department highlights complex approval processes and maintains there were no pre-event requests from Capitol Police ^[3]

Each narrative benefits different political groups: Republicans benefit from emphasizing Trump's alleged preparatory actions and Democrat officials' hesitation, while Democrats benefit from focusing on Trump's inaction during the actual events. The military establishment benefits from emphasizing procedural complexities that explain their delayed response.