Knocking Down Trump Impeachment Excuses
The 11 most common defenses and why they’re wrong
The January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is indefensible and Donald Trump’s role in inciting it is obvious. Yet a sizeable contingent of Americans — including most Republican Senators and right-wing media figures — have committed themselves to defending it. Well, not really defending it, but finding ways to excuse it, and to avoid holding the former president accountable.
It’s a pathetic, shameful effort. You can tell it’s a search for an excuse rather than a serious defense because Trump’s apologists flit from fig leaf to fig leaf, almost as if asking “Do you buy this one? No? Then how about this one?”
Here are the eleven most common “defenses” I’ve seen and why they’re wrong. I doubt I’ll convince many people to change their mind — most of the excuses are so weak that anyone who hadn’t committed in advance to letting Trump off the hook wouldn’t be making them — but if you’re uncertain, or arguing with anyone defending him, you might find it useful.
No big deal, just some internet goofballs
If the Capitol attack was basically a prank, or a protest that got a little out of hand, then there wasn’t any insurrection for Trump to incite. That impression might’ve…
