Trump adds five off-script demands for Pence to his Ellipse speech
Reporting and findings
- documented
After Pence refused by phone, Trump directed speechwriters to restore language targeting him and went off script five times to demand that Pence act, despite a White House lawyer's objection to the legal theory. The committee found the remarks produced substantial anger in the crowd, escalating the private pressure campaign into a public loyalty test.
- United States Government Publishing Office: Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States CapitolExecutive Summary pages 36–37: speech edits, five off-script references, and crowd response
- TIME: From taunts and lies to an angry mob: Jan. 6 panel details Trump's pressure campaign against PenceEllipse ad-libs targeting Pence and quoted demands to the crowd
Summary and current status
Speechwriters had removed the Pence attack; Trump restored it after the failed call and repeatedly targeted Pence before the crowd.
Committee linked the statements to immediate crowd anger against Pence
People and organizations
- Donald J. TrumpDonald Trump network root
- Mike PenceTrump vice president and 2020 running mate
Relationships in this file
- Donald J. Trumpvice president and running mateMike Pence