Greene, Gaetz to hold Jan. 6 presser after Trump cancels

Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) will be holding a presser on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, after former President Trump announced that he would be canceling his news conference scheduled for the same day.

The two conservative members of Congress are set to hold “a Republican response on the anniversary of the January 6th protests” on Thursday afternoon, according to a release from Gaetz’s office.

Trump, who was slated to hold a news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thursday, announced on Tuesday he would be canceling it, criticizing the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot with apparent references to Reps. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and the media.

“In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and instead will discuss many of those important topics at my rally on Saturday, January 15th, in Arizona – It will be a big crowd!” Trump wrote.

It is unclear how many Republican lawmakers will attend Gaetz’s and Greene’s news conference, as many GOP senators will be going to Georgia to attend the funeral of former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), which is set for the same day.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced late last month the series of events that would be held at the Capitol to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the day Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and attempted to stop the 2020 presidential election results from being certified by Congress.

Among the events scheduled are a moderated discussion with historians Jon Meacham and Doris Kearns Goodwin, a prayer vigil, a moment of silence and time for lawmakers to share their experiences of that day. 

Given that some Republicans will be traveling for Isakson’s funeral and the House is not scheduled to be in session on Thursday, it is likely that mostly Democrats will be participating in the scheduled events.