Scalise dismisses comparison between Waters, Trump comments before Capitol riots
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) said there is no comparison to be drawn between statements made by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) in Minnesota during a rally for racial justice over the weekend and comments from former President Trump before the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“A lot of people have talked about the comments that other people have made and spoken out against it,” Scalise said during a press conference on Tuesday. “Right now I haven’t heard any Democrats speaking out against what Maxine has said. And it’s time for Democrats to speak out when they see it on both sides … and that hypocrisy is starting to shine through.”
Scalise, the House Minority Whip, was asked by a reporter Tuesday if Waters’s comments are “on par with comments former president Trump made” prior to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Rep. Steve Scalise: “President Trump used the words peaceful when he talked about the statements that he made. I haven’t heard Maxine saying anything about peacefully protesting.” pic.twitter.com/AeH37zuAKI
— The Hill (@thehill) April 20, 2021
During a “Stop the Steal” rally before the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, Trump repeated false claims of a “stolen” and “rigged” election and urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and display “strength” as lawmakers met inside to certify President Biden’s electoral college victory.
“I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard,” Trump said during his speech before later saying: “You’ll never take back our country with weakness.”
“You have to show strength and you have to be strong,” Trump said on Jan. 6. “We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated, lawfully slated.”
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