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

Advertisement
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
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.
Advertisement

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.

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'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
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.

Advertisement

"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."

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
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."

Advertisement

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?"

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
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.

Advertisement

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.

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
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.

Advertisement

"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'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
Trump was seen grimacing, frowning, and signaling abruptly for a re-take of his speech after fumbling lines.January 6 Select Committee

The former President eventually did make it through the entire speech, which ended up being a two-and-a-half minute address.

The panel also showed two clips of Trump struggling to make it through a speech in the Rose Garden on January 6. According to testimonies from former Trump staffers, Trump had gone off-script when he called the Capitol protesters "very special" while asking them to "go home."

These videos of Trump struggling with reading from a teleprompter underscore the hypocrisy of the attacks by Trump and other right-wing figures on President Joe Biden's own teleprompter gaffes.

Advertisement

Trump has repeatedly insulted Biden's mental faculties with his campaign ads, calling him "sleepy Joe" and baselessly accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs on the campaign trail.

The January 6 committee has played testimony of several former Trump staffers recounting his unhinged behavior before, during, and after the Capitol riot.

For instance, former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson testified that Trump had once thrown his lunch against the wall in a fit of anger. She also said that Trump had a physical altercation with a Secret Service agent after his request to visit the Capitol during the riot was denied.

Trump has denied both claims, saying that hurling his food in anger was "not my thing" and that it would have been very hard for him to attack a Secret Service agent because they can "lift 350 pounds."

Trump's post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Advertisement
{{}}