A report by Mediaite on Thursday, March 4, 2024, Fox News contributor Karl Rove delivered a scathing critique of former President Donald Trump’s promise to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Rove, known for his strategic insights from George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign, minced no words as he labeled the rioters “thugs” and expressed bewilderment at Trump’s stance.
During a conversation with MSNBC’s Ari Melber at the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival in Southern California, Rove’s candid remarks underscored the significance of his commentary, given his role as a Fox News analyst. Melber emphasized the potency of their discussion, highlighting Rove’s unique perspective.
Rove didn’t hold back in offering advice to President Joe Biden and Democrats on countering Trump and the Republican Party’s influence in upcoming elections. Central to his critique was Trump’s vow to extend pardons to those involved in the insurrection, an act Rove deemed deeply troubling.
“If they were smart, they’d take the January 6th and go hard at it,” Rove asserted, urging Democrats to spotlight Trump’s intention to absolve individuals who assaulted the Capitol. Drawing from personal experience, Rove emphasized the sanctity of the institution, branding the attack as a stain on American history.
Recalling the events of January 6, 2021, Rove condemned Trump’s role in inciting the violent mob that breached the Capitol. He pointedly remarked on the former president’s relentless promotion of baseless claims regarding election fraud and his explicit encouragement for supporters to demonstrate their strength on the day of the Electoral College certification.
Expressing visceral disdain for the perpetrators, Rove declared, “And every one of those sons of bitches who did that, we ought to find them, try them, and send them to jail.”
Rove’s incredulity peaked when addressing Trump’s characterization of the rioters as “hostages.” Dismissing this notion outright, Rove underscored the gravity of their actions, labeling them as “thugs” who posed a severe threat to democracy. He recounted chilling accounts of rioters armed with automatic weapons and their brazen attempts to locate lawmakers within the Capitol.
“Why Trump has done this is beyond me,” Rove exclaimed, expressing perplexity at Trump’s alignment with individuals who actively sought to subvert law and order. He highlighted the incongruity between Trump’s sporadic endorsements of due process and his recent embrace of those implicated in violent insurrection.
Emphasizing the political misstep inherent in Trump’s stance, Rove reiterated the importance of dissociating from those who defied democratic norms and resorted to violence. He cautioned against the Trump campaign’s apparent alignment with anti-democratic forces, urging a return to principles of lawfulness and accountability.
