In the wake of the shocking footage showing pro-Trump protestors head to the US Capitol building, entering it, and vandalizing its contents, conservative media figures and websites went on a mission to not only justify the violent events of the 6th of January but also try and present proof to show that violent individuals who stormed the building are not affiliated with Trump but rather connected to left-wing groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter.
MAGA and Proud Boys are fighting cops in DC tonight. pic.twitter.com/5I09Z6Nitg
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) January 6, 2021
Following a speech he delivered in front of thousands of his supporters as they marched in the US capital protesting the results of the 2020 elections, thousands of angry rioters headed to the US Congress, threatening police officers and vandalizing the rooms of the building.
It was #AntifaTerroristsStormedTheCapitol pic.twitter.com/bpd6QE7ZHX
— Terrye - Text TRUMP to 88022 ?? (@Terrye_) January 7, 2021
However, conservative media in the US insisted that the violent events reported in Washington DC have nothing to do with Trump supporters and that a number of individuals who were seen in photos and videos "have previously been seen in left-wing protests."
There you go. Who else saw this coming? #AntifaBLMTerrorists #CapitolBuilding #Capitol pic.twitter.com/uUgZoxhEhS
— Jason Williams (@JasWill75) January 7, 2021
It's a tattoo of a symbol from a fucking video game. the STRAWS that are being grasped at, i can't man. #outsider #AntifaBLMTerrorists pic.twitter.com/2TbXTEXRND
— ?LMMSkits: YooToobah? (@LmmSkits) January 7, 2021
Moreover, right-wing figures heavily associated the historic violence in Congress with what they described as "incitement" by democrat politicians, saying that it had ignited the violence America has witnessed last night.
It’s not Trump who’s inciting violence ...Dems have urged #AntifaBLMTerrorists to commit violence pic.twitter.com/cTWi07nAV9
— Nigella (@nigella_i5e) January 7, 2021
Peaceful protest in Washington DC was taken over by #AntifaTerrorist
— Wil iWill (@Norms_Nonsense) January 7, 2021
Don't believe the rhetoric..
D@realDonaldTrump is the legitimate #POTUS pic.twitter.com/PSgBkIZaag
Yet, social media platforms have banned the US outgoing president from tweeting or posting online for 12 hours, accusing him of "fueling" his supporters' belief that the 2020 elections have been stolen from them, as he was still refusing to concede to the election outcome at the time.
#proof @POTUS these are anarchists at the #capital - many criminals are identified by their tattoos #AntifaBLMTerrorists pic.twitter.com/lEzvj08npR
— Shante' (@shantesview) January 7, 2021
Meanwhile, counter online tweets posted photos of a number of rioters with signs showing their affiliation with the right-wing conspiracy theory QAnon, in addition to ones posing for pictures with Trump's personal attorney Rudy Guliani, who led efforts to reverse election results since November 2020.
#DonaldTrump supporters now claim it was #AntifaBLMTerrorists that were responsible for the #CapitolRiots.
— Robert Marsden #FBPE (@RobertM31441195) January 7, 2021
Here is the #EVIDENCE #FactsMatter pic.twitter.com/Jy6DXxL3Aq
Nice try, you! pic.twitter.com/A9BbWzF7Nj
— AlmightyZan (@AlmightyZan) January 7, 2021