'Truly disgusting': Internet outraged as Trump salutes Jan 6 'hostages' at Ohio rally

DAYTON, OHIO: Former President Donald Trump saluted the imprisoned rioters who attacked the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, reported Newsweek.

The GOP presumptive nominee's shocking action took place in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday, March 16, while campaigning for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno.

As the announcement was made to "Please rise for the January 6 hostages, who have been treated unfairly," Trump stood on stage amidst his enthusiastic supporters and saluted while the song 'Justice for All,' dedicated to the J6 hostages, played.

The song is a version of the national anthem performed by Trump and the J6 Prison Choir, which includes the former president's voice reciting the pledge of allegiance.

Journalist Aaron Rupar shared the video clip of the moment on X, which garnered more than 400k views in less than 12 hours.

Donald Trump calls Jan 6 rioters 'patriots'

Addressing the crowd gathered at the windy airfield, Trump repeated the term "hostages" for the imprisoned Capitol attackers.

"You see the spirit from the hostages, and that's what they are: hostages," the former president said, adding they were "treated terribly and very unfairly," according to Newsmax.

He then pledged to work on the treatment against the jailed insurrectionists on his first day in office. "We're going to save our country. We're going to work with the people to treat those unbelievable patriots — and they were unbelievable patriots — and are you see[ing] the spirit? Just cheering," Trump said.

"They're cheering while they're doing that, and they did that in prison. And it's a disgrace in my opinion," he added.

The former president popularized the term "hostages" to describe his supporters jailed for unleashing violence in the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

Trump's federal indictment in Washington, DC, includes his alleged attempt to instigate election interference.

As per the data by the Department of Justice, as of January 6, 2024, more than 1265 defendants were arrested across the 50 states for inciting the riot.

Almost 123 individuals are facing charges for using lethal weapons and causing severe injuries to an officer. Additionally, 452 defendants are charged with "assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees."

"Approximately 749 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on January 6. Approximately 467 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration," the DOJ report says.

Trump, who continues to claim the 2020 election was rigged, last week announced releasing the "wrongfully imprisoned" January 6 hostages would be among his first acts as president if he wins in November.

In addition, during the third anniversary of the attack this year, he called on President Biden to release the detained "hostages."

Internet slams Donald Trump

Outraged at the "disgusting" act of saluting the Capitol rioters, netizens lashed out at the former president for insulting the people who had served the United States.

One user wrote on Facebook, "Truly disgusting. I wonder how he would react if thousands stormed Mar a Lago."

"Political theater clown shows and rants, that's his entire shtick at this point. Sad," another frustrated person commented.

A user added, "What a disgrace he’s made the Republican Party into. Saluting and promising to release traitors who attacked police while claiming he had nothing to do with it."

"Desperate act by a desperate man..disgusting," read another response.

Someone else wrote on X, "Disgusting display for one who 'claims' to be putting America first."

"This is why he will lose, someone please tell him he has his base locked up," an individual chimed in.

Another user stated, "What a disgrace to anyone who has served this country in any capacity."

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.