Donald Trump granted pardons and commutations to nearly all individuals convicted of or awaiting trial for crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, issuing blanket clemency on his first day of his second term in January 2025[1][2].
The rationale given was to frame prior prosecutions as a “grave national injustice” and to initiate a “process of national reconciliation,” with Trump and his advisers declaring the review of individual cases too “cumbersome” and that sentences were excessive [1][3][4].
In summary, Trump did indeed pardon almost all individuals arrested and convicted for crimes connected to January 6, pursuing this strategy for political and ideological reasons—including a stated goal of national reconciliation and a belief that sentences were unjust. Crimes pardoned encompassed a range from misdemeanors to major felonies directly linked to the events of the Capitol riot[1][3][2].
found that a significant majority of Americans opposed Trump's pardons for January 6 defendants, especially those involved in violent acts[1][2][3].
Disapproval was broad-based, cutting across political lines, although levels of opposition varied by party affiliation and the specific crimes involved.
In summary, national polling reveals clear, broad, and cross-partisan opposition to Trump’s January 6 pardons, especially for violent offenses, with only a minority of the public supporting the move[4][1][5][2][3].