Calls Jan. 6 defendants "persecuted so unfairly," repeats stolen-election claim ahead of D.C. rally

Ahead of the September 18 "Justice for J6" rally supporting people charged in the Capitol attack, Trump released a statement expressing sympathy for the defendants and again describing the 2020 election as "rigged." He said the prosecutions had "proven conclusively that we are a two-tiered system of justice" and predicted "JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL." In the same period he also called the planned rally a "setup," telling supporters that showing up would mean being harassed while staying away would be portrayed as low enthusiasm. Roughly eight months after the attack, the statement recast January 6 defendants as unjustly targeted while reasserting the false premise that the election they were protesting had been stolen.

“Our hearts and minds are with the people being persecuted so unfairly relating to the January 6th protest concerning the Rigged Presidential Election... In addition to everything else, it has proven conclusively that we are a two-tiered system of justice.” Quote verified against source