President Donald Trump addresses the press on Air Force One during his flight from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Eau Claire, Wis., on June 5, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump has not dismissed the idea of offering compensation to individuals involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol events, including those who admitted guilt for attacking law enforcement officers.
In a conversation broadcast on Sunday on NBC’s "Meet the Press," the president also reiterated his support for the proposed "Anti-Weaponization Fund," intended to reimburse individuals purportedly targeted unfairly under the Biden administration.
Last week, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing that the administration would not proceed with the fund, though he did not definitively commit to its permanent cancellation. However, on Friday, an attorney for the Department of Justice formally documented that plans to advance the fund would be halted.
President Donald Trump addresses the press on Air Force One during his flight from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Eau Claire, Wis., on June 5, 2026. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
"So for me, personally, I believe the weaponization fund is an excellent concept, as do many other Republicans. It requires approval. If they secure approval, that would be wonderful. If they do not gain approval, I would be unhappy," Trump stated to NBC’s Kristen Welker during the interview, which was recorded on Friday at a farmers’ gathering in Wisconsin.
According to the Department of Justice, over 1,580 individuals faced criminal charges in federal court related to Jan. 6. More than 1,000 individuals admitted guilt. At least 221 individuals were convicted after contested trials, and an additional 40 individuals were found guilty based on a mutually agreed-upon set of facts presented to and accepted by the court.
Upon entering office, Trump granted a general pardon to those connected with the insurrection.
When asked if he was seeking a way to reinstate the fund, Trump responded, "Well, you know, if it were up to me, I would provide them with the financial compensation they merit," emphasizing that the lives of those prosecuted have been "ruined."
Later in the discussion, Trump expressed uncertainty about the fund’s future but affirmed, "I am very fond of the concept."
Trump was questioned about his stance on Jan. 6 participants receiving public funds, and he did not rule out the possibility, stating he "would not be inclined to say no, but I need to examine the specifics."
When pressed further on the issue, particularly concerning Jan. 6 participants receiving government funds, Trump reiterated his assertion, unsupported by evidence, that "Many of those individuals were devastated by corrupt law enforcement and by weaponization; numerous people should be compensated."
Trump engaged in a strained exchange with Welker regarding the Jan. 6 participants, with the president contending that many pleaded guilty due to being "intimidated" and attributing some of the day’s events to "corrupt police officers."
The interview experienced several interruptions due to the sound of rain on the barn roof where it was being conducted. Trump eventually concluded the interview abruptly when Welker challenged his unsubstantiated claim that Democrats were "rigging" the ongoing primary election in California, where vote counts were still pending.
"Let’s conclude this, as I’ve had sufficient. Thank you, my dear. Have a pleasant day," Trump declared as he rose to leave. "I endured sitting in the rain with you for about an hour, intermittently in the rain, and I have given you adequate time," Trump stated after Welker urged him to continue the interview.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com