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Fact check: What timeline of National Guard deployment decisions occurred on January 6th 2021?
Checked on June 10, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The timeline of National Guard deployment on January 6th, 2021, shows a clear sequence of events marked by significant delays:
- At 1:09 PM, Capitol Police Chief Sund made the initial request for National Guard assistance [1]
- At 2:10 PM, formal approval was received to deploy the Guard [1]
- At 3:04 PM, Acting Defense Secretary Miller gave verbal approval for full National Guard activation [1]
- At 5:40 PM, the first National Guard personnel finally arrived at the Capitol, after most of the violence had subsided [1]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial pieces of context are missing from the basic timeline:
- The DC National Guard was reportedly ready to deploy at 3 PM, but was held back by Pentagon officials due to "optics" concerns [2]
- Former Major General William Walker testified that his forces were "out there, ready, and prepared" but were forced to wait for Pentagon authorization [2]
- There appears to have been misleading communication, as DoD officials told then-Speaker Pelosi at 3:19 PM that the Guard was "on the way" when they had not actually been deployed yet [2]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The simple question about the timeline fails to capture several important aspects:
- The timeline itself is not disputed, but the reasons for the delays are subject to conflicting interpretations
- Multiple bureaucratic hurdles appear to have played a role in the delayed response [1]
- There are conflicting accounts about who was ultimately responsible for the slow response [1]
- The Pentagon's concern about "optics" suggests political considerations may have influenced military decision-making during a critical security situation [2]
Those who might benefit from different interpretations of this timeline include:
- Pentagon officials, who might want to downplay their role in the delayed response
- Political figures who might use the timeline to either criticize or defend the Trump administration's handling of the situation
- Law enforcement and military leadership seeking to justify their actions or shift responsibility
Want to dive deeper?
Who had authority to deploy the National Guard on January 6th 2021?
What was the timeline of Capitol Police requests for backup on January 6th 2021?
How long did it take for National Guard to arrive at the Capitol on January 6th?
What role did the Pentagon play in National Guard deployment decisions January 6th?
Were there any delays in approving National Guard assistance on January 6th 2021?