Donald Trump did not formally call for or sign an order to deploy the National Guard on January 6, 2021, despite requests from officials to do so during the Capitol attack.
Mostly True
Trump did not call for the national guard on January 6
Trump’s claim that Pelosi turned down National Guard help on Jan. 6 is ‘just fantasy’ - The New Bedford Light
Source: newbedfordlight.org
At a glance
Verified August 14, 2025Key Evidence
Nancy Pelosi and others publicly stated they begged Trump to send in the National Guard on January 6 but he would not do it.
c-span.orgc-span.orgOn January 6th...we begged the president of the United States to send in the...
AP News confirmed Trump did not sign an order to deploy troops on January 6 and was not involved in immediate decision-making about the Guard's arrival.
apnews.comapnews.comTrump did not sign an order to deploy 20,000 troops on Jan. 6
FactCheck.org reported that Trump initially resisted deploying the Guard during the Capitol attack.
factcheck.orgfactcheck.orgTimeline of National Guard Deployment to Capitol
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple credible sources confirm that during the January 6 Capitol riot, officials including lawmakers and security personnel repeatedly urged then-President Donald Trump to authorize the deployment of the National Guard to help quell the violence. However, Trump did not issue a formal order or request for the National Guard's deployment at that critical time. Reports indicate that there was resistance or delay on Trump's part in approving the Guard's mobilization.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other officials publicly stated they begged Trump to send in the National Guard, but he refused initially.c-span.orgc-span.orgOn January 6th...we begged the president of the United States to send in the...
economictimes.indiatimes.comeconomictimes.indiatimes.comWhy did Donald Trump deploy the National Guard to LA protest, but not on Jan 6?...
The Associated Press and FactCheck.org report that Trump did not sign any order to deploy 20,000 troops on January 6 and was not directly involved in the decision-making process regarding the Guard's arrival during the riot.apnews.comapnews.comTrump did not sign an order to deploy 20,000 troops on Jan. 6
apnews.comapnews.comFACT FOCUS: Trump's misleading claims about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the...
factcheck.orgfactcheck.orgTimeline of National Guard Deployment to Capitol
Some claims by Trump that Pelosi declined National Guard assistance have been debunked as false.newbedfordlight.orgnewbedfordlight.orgTrump’s claim that Pelosi turned down National Guard help on Jan. 6 is ‘just...
While Trump was involved in discussions about National Guard presence in the days leading up to January 6, no formal deployment order was given by him during the attack itself. The National Guard was eventually deployed but only after significant delay and pressure from other officials.
Therefore, the claim that "Trump did not call for the National Guard on January 6" is mostly true, reflecting his lack of direct authorization or timely order for their deployment during the Capitol breach.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source