President Donald Trump is doubling down on his support for conservatives persecuted after the Jan. 6 protests, calling Ashli Babbitt a hero and suggesting financial compensation is on the table for the individuals unjustly imprisoned under the Biden administration.
Trump spoke about Babbitt’s killing in a recent interview, calling her a “really good person” and a loyal patriot. The Air Force veteran was shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, a man with a history of misconduct who has never faced serious consequences for pulling the trigger on an unarmed woman.
BREAKING: Trump announced an investigation into the cop who m*rdered Ashli Babbitt.
He needs to face a jury!pic.twitter.com/vardjFU5kE
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 26, 2025
Babbitt’s actions in the Capitol that day did not match the media narrative. Video shows her speaking to police officers and attempting to calm tensions before she was gunned down. Her family is now suing for $30 million in a wrongful death case, which Trump says he will be reviewing personally.
While Babbitt’s killer was given protection, cash bonuses and a promotion, those who protested alongside her were thrown in prison, vilified and labeled extremists. Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people shortly after taking office and is now exploring the possibility of financial aid to help them recover their lives.
The Biden administration and its allies used the protests as justification to crack down on political dissent. Many of those arrested were nonviolent and have since been released, but not before suffering financial ruin and damage to their reputations.
Republicans like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have called for murder charges against Byrd, citing his pattern of irresponsibility and dishonesty. Records show he left a loaded weapon in a bathroom, abandoned his post and then lied to investigators — yet was still promoted.
Trump’s recent remarks put renewed focus on the injustice that followed the Capitol protests and highlight a growing effort among conservatives to correct the wrongs done to their fellow citizens.
