Released Prisoners, Proud Boys, Neo-Nazis, React To President Trump's Pardon, Commuting Of January 6 Sentences

On January 20, 2025, his first day as president, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned or commuted the prison sentence, of all those charged with crimes in the January 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill, and vowed to dismiss their cases. This includes individuals convicted of assaulting police officers.[1] Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keeper militia leader Stewart Rhodes were among those who were pardoned, or had their sentences commuted.[2] Following their release, both leaders called for retribution.[3]

Many individuals on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Gab, and Telegram praised President Trump's actions. Some neo-Nazis and white supremacists took the opportunity to call for the pardoning of individuals such as Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed George Floyd, and participants in the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where one person was killed.

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Some took to social media to post images of themselves shortly after their release from prison.