A video, apparently recorded by Donald Trump Jr., shows his family and friends laughing and joking backstage before President Donald Trump spoke at a rally on Wednesday – not long before a crowd of the President’s supporters rolled into one Riot invaded the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead.
The video obtained from CNBC shows Donald Jr.’s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, hoping Vice President Mike Pence “has the courage or the wits to do the right thing” and is blocking Congress’ endorsement of Joe Biden as president.
It also shows Eric Trump, Donald Jr.’s brother, being congratulated on his birthday on the same day.
The video is not currently showing on Donald Jr.’s Instagram page. CNBC has approached the Trump organization, which Donald Jr. runs with Eric Trump, and the White House for comment on the video.
“Guys, get ready to go out there,” said Donald Jr. in the video that appears to have been streamed online from his cell phone in a tent area during the rally outside the White House.
“I can’t believe the crowd I saw out there. Literally a hundred thousand people, it’s up to the Washington Monument.”
“Just great patriots, fed up with the cops -” says Donald Jr. when Laura Branigan’s song “Gloria” booms from the outside.
“So thank you all for that. It’s actually hard to believe.”
Donald Trump at the television party
In the background, President Trump can be seen on the video waiting to take the stage.
Later, during a speech lasting more than an hour, the president made false claims about alleged electoral fraud that had got him out of an election victory over Biden.
Trump had also asked the crowd to help him “fight” Biden’s confirmation of victory and march to Congress after the rally.
As the crowd did so, thousands of people swarmed around the Capitol complex and pushed past the Capitol Police Department to swarm through the convention halls. They occupied the Senate Chamber and the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, including the offices of the legislature.
One of the invaders, a woman, was shot dead by a Capitol police officer.
Another Capitol police officer died Thursday after being hit with a fire extinguisher by a rioter.
Three other people died in the hand-to-hand combat, which resulted in Trump being removed from office less than two weeks before his term ended. A number of Trump administration officials, including Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, resigned over the unrest.
DeVos accused Trump’s rhetoric of contributing to the violence.
Donald Jr. also spoke at the rally.
Donald Trump Jr. speaks during a rally of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump on the Ellipse in front of the White House on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Images
“To these Republicans, many of whom may be voting on things in the hours ahead, you have an opportunity today,” he warned.
“You can be a hero or you can be a zero. And the choice is yours. But we’re all watching. The whole world is watching, folks. Choose wisely.”
Before speaking, Donald Jr. pans the video in the backstage area where a woman who appears to be the White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany smiled as she snapped a picture of television monitors showing the crowd outside.
“Kimberly!” Don Jr. once said to Guilfoyle on the video seeing her dancing and flickering to the music.
“Have the courage to do the right thing! Fight!” Says Guilfoyle to the camera.
Kimberly Guilfoyle dances at the Trump Rally TV Party
“I think we’re here at T-minus for a few seconds, folks, so tune in and give it a try,” says Donald Jr.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows then appears behind him, grinning widely and pointing his thumb up at the camera.
“Mark Meadows, a real fighter, one of the few, a real fighter,” says Donald Jr., alluding to the fact that his father lost the support of many Republicans in Congress and his own Vice President Pence in his law-damned effort, To prevent Biden from taking office.
Donald Trump Jr and Mark Meadows at the Trump TV Party
“Thanks Mark!”
Donald Jr. then pans the camera to capture his sister Ivanka Trump, a senior White House adviser, who smiles and waves at him.
The camera then pans to her brother Eric.
Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump at the Trump Rally TV Party
“Happy Birthday Eric!” Donald Jr. says.
“Hey guys, wishes Eric a happy birthday. He’s an old, old, broken down man,” adds Donald Jr. in a joking voice as the brothers playfully wrestle with each other.
When Eric points to his own hair, his brother says “albino” and leads Eric’s wife Lara Trump to say “Stop” reproachfully.
“You see, his wife laughed at it like she laughed at him every night,” says Donald Jr. in the video.
Guilfoyle then said, referring to Lara, “future senator,” a reference to Lara who was researching whether to run for the Senate from her home state of North Carolina.
“Okay guys, we’re going to get the show on the streets. Time to get back to work,” says Donald Jr. at the end of the video.
