The idea of financial compensation for the Jan. 6 rioters has sparked outrage after Donald Trump suggested that discussions about such a fund are happening within the government.
During a recent Newsmax interview, Trump was asked whether those who participated in the Capitol attack—and later faced prosecution—might receive financial compensation for lost income and opportunities. His response? “Well, there’s talk about that. We have a lot of people talk about that. A lot of the people that are in government now talk about it because they—a lot of people in government really like that group of people.”
He then doubled down, referring to the rioters as “patriots” and insisting they had been treated “very unfairly.” While he never explicitly confirmed that such a fund is in the works, his response was enough to ignite a firestorm online.
Across social media, critics were quick to point out the hypocrisy. One viral post read, “So, reparations for insurrectionists…got it.” Another user blasted the idea, contrasting it with the government’s refusal to increase Social Security benefits: “But there is not enough money for Grandma’s Social Security payments.”
Others highlighted the Republican Party’s stance on government spending, calling out the contrast between denying Americans affordable healthcare while allegedly considering payouts for those who violently stormed the Capitol.
Rep. Jamie Raskin joined the backlash, posing a pointed question: “How about reparations for the police officers who were injured defending Congress that day?”
The debate doesn’t end there. A chilling comment on Reddit warned of the dangerous precedent such a fund could set: “He got people to storm the Capitol WITHOUT compensation. Imagine what he can get people to do in the future by offering cash rewards and legal immunity.”
What do you think? Should taxpayer dollars ever go toward compensating those involved in the Capitol attack?
