Donald Trump speaks to followers outside the White House, January 6 (Tasos Katopodis/Getty)


Donald Trump cancels a press conference planned for the anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Republican Senators broke with Trump over his attempt to take over the anniversary with the event at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I guess it depends on what he’s going to say. But early assumptions are that it’s going to be an aggressive statement. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa said she wanted to “stay focused on congressional activities”. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said the event wasn’t a “terribly good idea”, although he added, “What am I going to do about it?”

Several other Republicans declined to comment and emphasized that they want to deal with other matters. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas summarized:

It’s a free country and you’re entitled to say whatever you want to say subject to some limitations, but I think the country has moved on. I think that’s where we ought to focus our efforts, is on getting things done for the American people and not re-litigating issues that have already been decided.

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the Senate Minority Whip, said, “He’s going to do what he’s going to do and…I think that most of us want to make sure that something like that never happens again.”

Trump blamed the House select committee on the Capitol Attack and the “Fake News Media” for his cancellation and said he will comment on “many of those important topics” at an Arizona rally on January 15.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are expected to deliver remarks at the US Capitol on Thursday.