President Donald Trump is reportedly blaming antifa after his supporters rioted and stormed the U.S. Capitol building Jan. 6, according to a Monday report from Axios.
Trump supporters breached the Capitol as lawmakers inside were certifying the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden. As a result, House Democrats have begun impeachment proceedings and are pushing for Trump to be removed from office.
Despite the impending impeachment vote and the riot at the Capitol, the president reportedly brought up antifa being responsible for the event during a Monday phone call with House minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Axios reported, citing a White House official and a second anonymous individual with knowledge of the call.
“The White House official said the call was tense and aggressive at times, with Trump ranting about election fraud and an exasperated McCarthy cutting in to say, ‘Stop it. It’s over. The election is over,'” Axios reported. (RELATED: Media Spent Months Downplaying Violent BLM, Antifa Riots. With The Capitol Riot, They’ve Suddenly Changed Their Tune)
“It’s not antifa, it’s MAGA. I know. I was there,” McCarthy reportedly told Trump.
New: In a tense AM call w Kevin McCarthy, President Trump today privately — and falsely — blamed “Antifa people” for storming the Capitol… McCarthy told him the riot “was MAGA” and he knew because he was in there, per WH official. https://t.co/tp8Il0NGRF #axiossneakpeek
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) January 12, 2021
There is no evidence indicating a slew of undercover antifa individuals stormed the Capitol disguised as Trump supporters, and the FBI confirmed that there is “no indication at this time” that the far-left group was involved.
McCarthy also reportedly told Trump during the phone call that he should call and meet with Biden. The Republican congressman also said Trump should leave a welcome letter for Biden, as is tradition.
Trump told McCarthy that he hadn’t made a decision on whether he would do it, according to Axios.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller.