'Call them criminals': Donald Trump slammed as he demands Joe Biden to release Jan 6 attack 'hostages'

CLINTON, IOWA: In his campaign speeches on the third anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, Donald Trump called on President Joe Biden to release the rioters serving prison terms for attacking the Capitol Building, as reported by NBC News.

Speaking at a 'Commit to Caucus' rally in Clinton, Iowa, on Saturday, January 6, 2024, the former president used the term "hostages", referring to the convicted people.

"Release the J6 hostages Joe. Release them Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe," Trump said.

Trump brought up the rioter's imprisonment a day after Biden, during his first campaign speech for the 2024 reelection bid, slammed the former president's alleged involvement in the January 6 events.

The President also pointed out his predecessor's rising admiration toward dictators like Adolf Hitler and their anti-immigrant language.

The GOP frontrunner accelerated his campaign in the Hawkeye state with just over a week left for the caucuses scheduled on January 15.

Donald Trump says Jan 6 insurrectionists  have 'suffered enough'

With Democrats continuing to use January 6 in their favor, Trump explicitly stated his fondness for the insurrectionists in jail.

"They ought to release the J6 hostages. They've suffered," the White House hopeful said.

He continued, "I call them hostages. Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages."

According to Reuters, in a 2022 interview, Trump explicitly stated his willingness to pardon the Capitol rioters if elected in 2024.

Previously, rival GOP presidential contender Ron DeSantis took a dig at the former president for not pardoning them on the last day of his office.

Trump, facing federal charges for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, downplayed the Capitol insurrection in his speeches amid his conflicts with Maine and Colorado, which have barred him from their 2024 primary ballots.

Maine Secretary of State and the Colorado Supreme Court cited that the former president violated the Constitution's Section 3 of Amendment 14 by promoting the January 6 attack.

Internet slams Donald Trump

Netizens are outraged at the presidential hopeful for labeling the rioters as "hostages."

Many people mocked Trump, saying he should pay their legal fees, and questioned his previous statements accusing the FBI and Antifa "led the charges."

One user remarked, "I call them criminals."

Another user wrote, "I call them traitors."

"Hostages? No. Not even close," read one reaction.

A fourth user mocked Trump's demand and wrote, "I thought they were feds. Or antifa. Or or …" While another user added, "So the flavour of the day is that they're not Antifa."

"They are in prison because of this dude and he’s trying to turn it around on the guy he lost to," noted a fifth user.

A sixth response read, "Pay their legal fees Donald. Pay them Donald." One user added, "Disgusting."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.