Let’s get one thing clear right out of the gate: blaming Nancy Pelosi for the January 6th insurrection is like blaming the chef at your favorite restaurant for the fact that you’re bad at parallel parking. Republicans have been running this tired script for ages now, desperately trying to convince people that the Speaker of the House was somehow responsible for the biggest domestic attack on democracy since that time King George got all salty about tea.
If you’ve been paying attention, you might have heard the GOP spin this yarn: Nancy Pelosi personally rejected National Guard support before the riot and just sort of sat back, sipping an espresso, watching the chaos unfold, and thinking, “This’ll be fun.” Apparently, in their version of events, she’s got so much power that not only can she pass legislation, wrangle her caucus, and save the postal service, but she can also play four-star general in her spare time. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was probably eating Big Macs and wondering why no one had built a moat around the White House.
So, since Republicans keep pushing this fantasy, let’s tear it apart like it deserves—point by point, with a little humor and a lot of fact-checking.
Pelosi, Commander-in-Chief? Please
First up, we have the GOP’s claim that Nancy Pelosi could have called in the National Guard before or during the riot but didn’t. Now, this is a fun little fantasy, but it’s about as grounded in reality as a “Sharknado” sequel. Here’s how the real world works: in Washington, D.C., the National Guard isn’t under Nancy Pelosi’s control. She can’t snap her fingers and summon a battalion like she’s leading some kind of medieval army. The National Guard falls under the authority of the President and the Department of Defense. And who was the president on January 6? Donald J. “I’ll watch this riot unfold from my recliner” Trump.
Now, if Pelosi really did have this kind of power, I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t have used it for security. She’d be out here fixing climate change, instituting universal healthcare, and making Mitch McConnell watch the “Hamilton” musical on repeat until he learned all the lyrics. But no, she doesn’t control the Guard, and if we’re being honest, we all know who does—or at least, who should have. (Hint: It’s the guy who lost the election and couldn’t figure out how to pack his bags fast enough to leave.)
But Republicans? They can’t accept that Trump was too busy rage-tweeting to do anything about the insurrection, so they’d rather spin this tale of Pelosi as the all-powerful villain in some comic book. Let’s call it The Blame Game: Pelosi’s Revenge.
Who Actually Handles Security? (Hint: Not Nancy)
Republicans love to act like Nancy Pelosi was running Capitol security like a nightclub bouncer deciding who gets in. “Oh, you’re a rioter? Come on in. Just don’t break too many windows.” In reality, Capitol security falls under the Capitol Police Board, which includes the House Sergeant at Arms, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Capitol Police Chief. You know, the people whose job it actually is to prevent angry mobs from treating the Capitol like it’s a scene from Mad Max: Fury Road.
Now, Pelosi does have some influence here—she can work with the House Sergeant at Arms—but she’s not the one deciding tactical security measures or who’s guarding the door. It’s like if you blame the CEO of Starbucks for your burnt coffee instead of the barista who left the cup on the burner too long. It just doesn’t add up. And while we’re on the subject, let’s remember that Mitch McConnell’s Senate Sergeant at Arms was part of that same Capitol Police Board. But you won’t hear Republicans blaming Mitch for the chaos, will you? No, because pointing fingers is much easier when they’re all directed at the opposition.
The Real Story: The Pentagon Dropped the Ball
Here’s where the GOP’s narrative really starts to crumble. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testified that he requested National Guard support multiple times—before and during the riot. And where did those requests go? Right up the chain of command to the Pentagon, which, by the way, was still full of Trump appointees at the time. What did the Pentagon do? Sat on their hands, apparently waiting for divine intervention while rioters were scaling the walls like it was an audition for American Ninja Warrior.
So let’s set the record straight: Pelosi didn’t block anything. The problem was that Trump’s Defense Department dragged its feet for hours. If we’re assigning blame for the lack of response, maybe we should look at the people who had actual authority to deploy the National Guard instead of trying to blame the woman who was probably busy hiding from a mob that was literally hunting for her.
And let’s not forget, after the chaos started, Pelosi was pushing to get Congress back in session so they could certify the election that very night—while Republicans were still trying to find ways to overturn the results. So yeah, Nancy was pretty busy, but not in the way they want you to believe.
“Optics” and the Real Reason the Guard Wasn’t Deployed Sooner
Now, let’s talk about why Capitol security leaders hesitated to request the National Guard before January 6. There’s this thing called “optics,” and Republicans know all about it because they spent months turning the temperature up on their base, telling them democracy was being stolen. Capitol Police leaders were wary of deploying military forces against Trump’s supporters because they didn’t want to make the situation worse. The last thing they needed was to look like they were preparing for war against a bunch of flag-waving, MAGA-hat-wearing “patriots” who thought they were staging the sequel to 1776.
And who do we have to thank for those “optics” concerns? Oh, right—Trump, his enablers, and the entire GOP, who spent months pushing the “Big Lie” that the election was rigged. They created this powder keg, handed out matches, and then acted surprised when the whole thing exploded.
But sure, let’s go ahead and blame Pelosi for not preparing for an insurrection that she didn’t encourage, didn’t plan, and was actively trying to avoid. It’s like blaming a firefighter for not arriving before the arsonist even lit the match.
Republican Culpability: They Fanned the Flames, Then Acted Shocked
If we’re going to play the blame game, let’s call out the real culprits here. Trump and his allies spent months telling their supporters that the election was stolen, that the country was being taken away from them, and that January 6 was their last chance to “fight” for America. It was a nonstop barrage of lies, conspiracy theories, and baseless claims of fraud. And then, surprise! Those same supporters took them seriously and stormed the Capitol like they were starring in some kind of half-baked revolution fantasy.
But here’s the kicker: even after the insurrection, after rioters had smeared feces on the Capitol walls and broken windows like they were auditioning for Property Brothers: Demolition Edition, many Republicans still stood up and objected to certifying the Electoral College results. They still fed the very lie that got those people to the Capitol in the first place. And these are the folks who want to lecture Nancy Pelosi on responsibility? Please.
Conclusion: The GOP’s Never-Ending Bullsh*t
In the end, the GOP’s attempt to blame Nancy Pelosi for January 6 is nothing more than a sad, desperate attempt to deflect from their own failures. They know their guy stoked the fire, cheered on the mob, and then sat back as the chaos unfolded. But instead of owning up to their role in the mess, they’d rather spin a fantasy where Pelosi is somehow the mastermind behind it all.
So, let’s be real: Pelosi isn’t responsible for the insurrection. The people responsible are the ones who spent months lying about the election, hyping up January 6 as some sort of showdown, and then sat back while their supporters tore through the Capitol. If the GOP wants to find someone to blame, maybe they should start with a mirror.
And as for Pelosi? I’m sure she’s too busy keeping the government running to even bother acknowledging this nonsense. Maybe Republicans should try it sometime.
