Trump demands Biden release J6 'hostages' during Iowa campaign stops

Many believe that a large number of those who participated in the Jan. 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol were ultimately unfairly punished and have been held prisoner -- or "hostage" -- for several years.

Former President Donald Trump is one who believes that, and recently called for the J6 "hostages" to be freed.

Trump called for President Joe Biden to release those who have been held the entire time during several campaign stops in Iowa last week, according to the Daily Mail.

The former president slammed Democrats and the Biden administration for what they've done to America and then called for the jailed J6 protesters to be released.

"You know what they outta do? They outta release the J6 hostages. They've suffered enough," Trump said.

Trump calls for release of #J6 hostages.pic.twitter.com/gLGwQs3UUZ

— SULLY🇺🇸 (@SULLY10X) January 8, 2024

"They outta release them," Trump added. "I call them hostages, some people call them prisoners, I call them hostages."

The 45th president doubled down, calling on Biden to intervene. The audience went wild, as many agree with Trump that they've been held unfairly from the get-go.

"Release the J6 hostages, Joe!' Trump commanded. "Release them Joe! You can do them real easy, Joe."

Some members of Congress, including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) also used the term "hostages" to describe those who've been locked up without a trial since being charged by Biden's Justice Department.

"I have concerns about the treatment of January 6th hostages,” Stefanik said. "We have a rule in Congress of oversight over our treatment of prisoners. And I believe that we’re seeing the weaponization of the federal government against not just President Trump, but we’re seeing it against conservatives."

Not surprisingly, the White House didn't take kindly to Trump labeling them as "hostages." According to The Hill, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the White House position on the former president's comments clear.

"I’ve seen American veterans note that how grotesque and offensive to compare those convicted of assaulting cops and attempting to overthrow the American government that veterans, that veterans have died defending innocent Americans," KJP said.

"It is grotesque to make those types of comparisons, and the president, you know, spoke very forcefully of how he saw January 6, and laid out there’s a choice that we have to make here," she added.