Trump says January 6 attacks on police were 'minor incidents'
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Donald Trump has said that attacks on police officers during the January 6 riots were "minor incidents". In his first sit-down interview since being inaugurated on Monday, recorded in the Oval Office, Mr Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity most of those who were jailed over the US Capitol riots were "absolutely innocent".
As part of a flurry of executive orders on his first day back in office, the president pardoned around 1,500 people who were convicted over the unrest - including more than 200 who were jailed for felony assault on police officers. Speaking to Hannity on Fox, Mr Trump said of those convicted: "Nobody's ever been treated so badly. They were treated like the worst criminals in history.".
He went on to claim those at the US Capitol were simply there "protesting the vote" before again falsely claiming the 2020 election was "rigged". When asked by Mr Hannity about the pardons for those jailed for assault, the president said: "They were very minor incidents, and it was time.".
The president was equally dismissive of the alleged threat to US security posed by TikTok. Day 4: How will Trump 2.0 handle the media. Former 'MAGA cult' member rejects Capitol riot pardon from 'narcissist' Trump. President Trump: 'Peacemaker'?. He ordered the reactivation of the video-sharing site shortly after it had been closed down in the US by a law passed under the Biden administration, because of concerns over links between the owners and the Chinese government and the perceived threat to personal data.
