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Fact check: Did President Trump request National Guard deployment before January 6th Capitol events?
Checked on June 12, 2025
1. Summary of the results
The evidence regarding Trump's National Guard request before January 6th presents a complex and somewhat contradictory picture:
- Multiple sources confirm Trump discussed National Guard deployment with defense officials, including acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and Gen. Mark Milley [1]
- Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and Anthony Ornato both testified that Trump made requests regarding National Guard troops [1] [2]
- However, there's significant dispute about the specific claim of requesting 10,000 troops:
- While some sources support this claim [3], Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller characterized this number as "hyperbolic" with "no elaboration" [4]
- Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby stated there is no record of such an order [5]
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:
- The actual deployment was significantly smaller than discussed - DC Mayor Bowser only requested around 350 troops [2]
- The timing of deployment is crucial context - the first National Guard members didn't arrive until 5:40 p.m. on January 6th, after the Capitol was breached [6]
- There were bureaucratic restrictions that complicated and delayed the response, according to D.C. National Guard's Maj. Gen. William Walker [6]
- The Department of Defense timeline only shows an agreement for 340 National Guard members [5]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The question itself oversimplifies a complex series of events and communications:
- Political motivations affect how this is reported:
- Trump supporters benefit from emphasizing his request for troops, suggesting he tried to prevent violence
- Critics benefit from highlighting the lack of formal documentation and delayed response
- The rejection of larger deployment was allegedly due to "concerns about political optics" [3]
- There's a crucial distinction between informal discussions about troops and formal orders - while Trump discussed troops with officials [1], there's dispute about whether these constituted formal requests or orders [4]
Want to dive deeper?
What was the timeline of National Guard deployment on January 6, 2021?
Who has authority to deploy National Guard troops in Washington DC?
What did the January 6th Committee conclude about National Guard deployment requests?
What evidence exists of Trump's communications about security before January 6th?
How long did it take for National Guard to arrive at the Capitol on January 6th?