Trump's awkward Jan. 7 video outtakes reveal his behavior behind the scenes as he argued with Ivanka, slammed the podium, and fumbled over his words
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Cheryl Teh
Jul 22, 2022, 15:15 IST
The January 6 panel revealed a new video showing how Trump melted down while recording a message on January 7, 2021.January 6 House Select Committee
A new video from the January 6 panel shows Trump's anger and frustration while recording a message.
The recording from January 7, 2021, showed Trump banging on the podium and gesturing angrily.
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A series of video clips shown by House committee investigating the Capitol riot gave shocking insight into former President Donald Trump's behavior behind the scenes.
The video from January 7 last year — around 24 hours after rioters swarmed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the election — was played during the January 6 panel's eighth public hearing on Thursday.
President Trump on January 7th: "This election is now over. Congress has certified the results -- I don't want to say the election's over."#January6thHearingpic.twitter.com/tZ5urGjsZZ
In the video, Trump was seen taking more than 10 seconds after being cued to adjust his posture and facial expression, before beginning with his statement: "I would like to begin by addressing the heinous attack yesterday."
Trump looked around uncertainly and spent 10 seconds appearing to adjust his posture, strike a pose, and steel himself before launching into his address.Januay 6 Select Committee
However, this was but one of multiple takes Trump went through to record his nationwide address. Right after the first pause, Trump appeared to signal for a do-over.
In the second video shown by the panel, Trump stopped in the middle of recording after appearing to struggle with disavowing the violence during the riot.
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"You can't say that," Trump remarked, highlighting the phrase "you broke the law," which was presumably displayed on the teleprompter at the time.
"I'm not gonna — I already said 'you will pay,'" he said in the clip.
In another video, the former president was seen banging on the podium in frustration after failing to say the word "defiled."
"Demonstraters who infiltrated the Capitol — have defied the seat — it's defiled, right?" Trump said. "See, I can't see it very well. Ok. I'll do this! I'm gonna do this. Let's go."
The former president stopped recording his statement during one take because he had trouble saying the word "yesterday."January 6 Select Committee
In the fourth clip played by the panel, Trump paused partway through his address and began debating the language with his daughter Ivanka. He refused to say four words suggested by aides: "The election is over."
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Trump read off the teleprompter: "But this election is now over. Congress has certified the results."
He then paused and backpedaled.
"I don't want to say the election is over," Trump said. "I just want to say Congress certified the results announcing the election is over, OK?"
On more than one occasion, Ivanka Trump interjected to give suggestions on what her father should say.January 6 Select Committee
His daughter Ivanka was then heard prompting him: "But, Congress has certified…"
"Now — I didn't say over — Go to the paragraph before," Trump said.
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The panel's fifth video clip showed Trump flapping his arms and puffing up his chest. This time, however, he stumbled on the word "yesterday."
"I wanna begin by addressing the heinous attack yesterday," Trump said, before stopping again.
"Yesterday's a hard word for me," he commented.
"Just take it out," Ivanka said.
Ivanka Trump suggested that her father simply omit the word "yesterday," which he had trouble saying in the video.January 6 Select Committee
"Good, take the word 'yesterday' out. Cause, it doesn't work with — the heinous attack — on our country. Say, 'on our country.' Wanna say that?" he said.
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"No, keep it," Ivanka said in the video.
In the committee's sixth clip, Trump grimaced while attempting to make it through a line stating that his goal was to "ensure the integrity of the vote." And in the following video, he slammed the podium in frustration after failing to get through the same line again.
Trump was seen grimacing, frowning, and signaling abruptly for a re-take of his speech after fumbling lines.January 6 Select Committee
Never-before-seen raw footage of Trump recording his message in the Rose Garden. pic.twitter.com/yDZsQ3zZfM
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) July 22, 2022
These videos of Trump struggling with reading froma teleprompter underscore the hypocrisy of the attacks by Trump and other right-wing figures on President Joe Biden's own teleprompter gaffes.
The January 6 committee has played testimony of several former Trump staffers recounting his unhinged behavior before, during, and after the Capitol riot.
Trump's post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
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