Trump’s novel take on January 6: calling convicted rioters ‘hostages’

Attempt by far right, led by ex-president and Elise Stefanik, to whitewash political violence troubles onlookers in election year

Supporters of Donald Trump have long been forced to suspend their belief in reality: expected to believe, against all evidence to the contrary, that the one-term president won the 2020 election, hasn't committed any crimes and is a successful businessman.

But as another tight presidential election looms, the recent efforts by Donald Trump to reimagine the people imprisoned for their role in the January 6 insurrection as hostages", and to downplay the horrors of that day as a peaceful protest, could have serious ramifications for democracy and his own party, onlookers have warned.