Final Report of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol/Chapter 7/Section 7.5
7.5 “HE DOESN’T WANT TO DO ANYTHING”
Throughout the afternoon, the President's advisors tried to get him to tell the mob to leave the Capitol, but to no avail.
Ben Williamson, the White House Acting Director of Communications, watched on the news as officers and rioters pepper sprayed each other and crowds used bicycle barricades to push against officers holding the line.[155] He and Sarah Matthews, the Deputy Press Secretary, devised a plan: He would go to Meadows and she would go to McEnany to urge that the President issue a statement.[156] Williamson first texted Meadows:
"Would recommend POTUS put out a tweet about respecting the police over at the Capitol."[157]
Minutes later, around 2:05 p.m., Hutchinson found Meadows seated in his office on the couch, absorbed by his cell phone screen.[158]
"Are you watching the TV, chief?" she asked. He indicated he was.
"Have you talked to the President?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "He wants to be alone right now."[159]
Rioters broke into the west side of the Capitol building around 2:13 p.m.[160] Just a few minutes later, Hutchinson saw Cipollone "barreling down the hallway" and—after looking at Hutchinson and shaking his head—opened the door to Meadows's office unannounced.[161] Meadows was right where she left him, "still sitting on his phone."[162]
"The rioters have gotten to the Capitol, Mark. We need to go down and see the President now," she heard Cipollone say.[163] Cipollone would not confirm or deny any of this exchange, citing executive privilege.[164]
"He doesn't want to do anything, Pat," Meadows said, peering up from his phone.[165]
"Mark something needs to be done, or people are going to die and the blood's gonna be on your [fucking] hands," Cipollone said. "This is getting out of control. I'm going down there."[166]
Meadows finally stood up from the couch and walked with Cipollone toward the dining room to meet with the President.[167]