'No such thing': CNN's Jake Tapper shreds Trump for calling pardoned J6 rioters 'hostages'

CNN anchor Jake Tapper smacked down President Donald Trump over his massive pardoning spree of Jan. 6 rioters on his first day in office.

In particular, Tapper aimed at Trump's comments to reporters, where he said, "These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon. Yes. Full pardon. We have about six commutations in there."

"There is no such thing as 'J6 hostages,'" said Tapper, noting that the families of "actual hostages, people kidnapped from their beds, from their communities, ripped from their families' arms on October 7th by Hamas were standing on that stage ... the criminals that President Trump pardoned were not hostages. They were part of the biggest criminal probe in U.S. history, all of it dismantled with the swipe of President Trump's signature black marker. Let's rewind and listen to President Trump the day after the insurrection of 2021, in his own words."

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"Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem to those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction," said Trump in the clip. "You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay."

"Huh?" said Tapper. "President Trump now apparently feels quite differently about these 1,500 criminals. The Trump transition had promised, as recently as yesterday morning, a careful case-by-case analysis before the president issued any pardons. That, of course, did not happen."

Tapper then walked through a short sampling of people who received pardons or commutations, including Oath Keepers Kelly Meggs and Stewart Rhodes, who masterminded heavily-armed assaults on the Capitol complex; Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, who shattered a window with a stolen police riot shield; Julian Khater, who disabled police officers with bear spray; Matthew Kroll, who stole a police baton and instigated attacks; and Robert Palmer, who beat police with a fire extinguisher and other blunt objects.

Tapper concluded by quoting Trump's own Vice President, J.D. Vance, who assured the country that "if you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn't be pardoned."

"Obviously not obvious to everyone," said Tapper.

Watch the video below or at the link here.

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