Fact check: What communications existed between Trump and military officials regarding January 6th?

• Trump met with senior Pentagon leaders and explicitly requested them to ensure event safety, specifically recommending National Guard deployment ^[1]
• He was quoted telling military leaders to "do whatever you have to do. Just make sure it's safe" ^[1]
• These communications were corroborated by multiple sources and transcripts ^[2]

• Many communications records were permanently lost when the Defense Department wiped phones of top DOD and Army officials at the end of the Trump administration ^[3]
• Key officials affected included Chris Miller, Kash Patel, and Ryan McCarthy ^[3]

**2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints**

Several crucial contextual elements need to be considered:

• Pentagon officials reportedly delayed the National Guard response due to "optics" concerns, contradicting the original DoD Inspector General report ^[2]
• The phone wiping was claimed to be part of standard departure procedures by defense officials, not an attempt to hide information ^[4]
• The deletion of communications has impacted investigations by both American Oversight and the House January 6th committee ^[4]

**3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement**

The question itself might lead to incomplete conclusions without considering:

• Much of the narrative around Trump's communications with military officials has been subject to reframing attempts ^[5]
• Various conspiracy theories and false narratives have emerged surrounding the events ^[6]
• The loss of communications records creates a significant gap in verifiable information, making it difficult to establish a complete picture ^[3]