January 6 Pardons: The Latest Betrayal His Supporters Won’t Regret

It happened. Again. Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed champion of "law and order," delivered another masterclass in irony by issuing mass pardons for January 6 rioters. Yes, the same people who smashed windows, attacked police officers, and desecrated the Capitol—all in the name of "patriotism"—just got a presidential get-out-of-jail-free card. And yet, some of his most loyal voters, those who spent years chanting "back the blue" and decrying "lawlessness," are now doing Olympic-level mental gymnastics to justify this latest move.

But let’s talk about the others—the Trump voters who, while still loyal, are quietly squirming in their seats. They aren’t happy about these pardons, but they’re not about to admit they backed the wrong horse either. No, instead, they’ll hem and haw about "principles" and "accountability," all while conveniently sidestepping the fact that they hitched their wagon to a man who never saw a rule he couldn’t break.

Take, for instance, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s lukewarm critique of the pardons. She expressed concern over the message it sends to law enforcement and the broader public. Valid points! But let’s not forget: Murkowski’s party spent years enabling Trump, brushing off his excesses as "just Trump being Trump." Now, when he’s handing out pardons like Oprah gives out cars, it’s a little late to play the accountability card.

Or consider the PBS/Marist poll that revealed 30% of Republicans disapproved of pardoning January 6 participants. That’s not nothing, but it’s also not exactly a groundswell of outrage. Where’s the fiery condemnation? The mass exodus from Trumpism? Oh, right—it’s nowhere, because even the disillusioned can’t bring themselves to admit they got conned.

The pardons have also sparked unease among some former Trump voters who once prided themselves on their "law and order" bona fides. The cognitive dissonance must be exhausting: how do you square supporting a man who pardons violent offenders while still claiming to stand for justice and the rule of law? Spoiler alert: you can’t. But that hasn’t stopped them from trying.

Meanwhile, Trump’s diehard base is doubling down. To them, the January 6 rioters are "patriots," victims of a corrupt system hell-bent on silencing dissent. Never mind the videos of rioters assaulting police officers or erecting gallows outside the Capitol. Those inconvenient truths get brushed aside in favor of a narrative that casts Trump as a misunderstood hero and his followers as martyrs. It’s a cult of personality on steroids, and the few who dare to question it risk being cast out as traitors.

The pardons highlight an uncomfortable truth: Trumpism isn’t about principles. It’s about loyalty to one man, no matter how many times he betrays his own stated values. The pardons spit in the face of every voter who believed Trump’s rhetoric about "law and order." And yet, many of those voters will stay loyal, convinced that this is just another brilliant 4D chess move from their favorite "stable genius."

For those quietly questioning their allegiance, here’s a tip: it’s okay to admit you were wrong. In fact, it’s healthy. But as long as you’re too proud to take that step, you’ll remain complicit in the circus. So enjoy the show, Trump voters. You bought the ticket—and you’re going to ride this rollercoaster of hypocrisy to the bitter end.