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28th Jul 2021

Donald Trump compared to Bin Laden over US Capitol riots

Charlie Herbert

‘January 6 was a terrorist attack and Trump was its Bin Laden’

Former president Donald Trump has been compared to Osama Bin Laden for his role in inspiring the Capitol riots earlier this year.

It’s after police officers on duty when the riots took place described those involved as “terrorists.”

Congressional hearings on the infamous riots have begun, and on the first day officers involved in defending the US Capitol from the masses of Trump supporters gave shocking testimonies of the violence and abuse they faced.

Many said that they feared they would be killed by the mob of self-described ‘patriots.’

One of the officers in question, Daniel Hodges, repeatedly referred to the rioters as “terrorists” during his hearing, in which he also read out the legal definition of domestic terrorism to justify his use of the term.

He acknowledged that some people would “have a problem with using the word ‘terrorist,’ it’s gained a lot of notoriety in our vocabulary in recent years.”

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After the testimony, many took to social media to argue that Trump’s role in inspiring the attacks was similar to Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden’s role in the 9/11 attacks.

Journalist Richard Hine wrote the events of January 6 constituted a “terrorist attack and Trump was its Bin Laden.”

Another said: “Osama Bin Laden didn’t fly planes into US buildings. He inspired others to do it with his words & said it was a ‘greater calling.’ He ensured the money & resources were available. Donald J. Trump is the same.”

Both tweets have racked up hundreds of likes.

Neither Trump nor his officials have been charged with involvement in the riots, but the Guardian reports that Congressional members involved in the investigation are expected to call on members of the Department of Justice to testify on the role of Trump’s administration in causing the riots.