White House Says Trump Labeling of Jan. 6 Prisoners as ‘Hostages’ Is ‘Grotesque’

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called Donald Trump referring to Jan. 6 prisoners as "hostages" offensive on Monday.

In a press gaggle on Air Force One, Jean-Pierre addressed the very different messages put out by President Joe Biden and Trump on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In the former president's speech, he referred to those charged with entering the Capitol as "hostages."

"You know, 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, like an Israeli — like in Israel and — and people of other nationalities who — who were abducted during Hamas atrocities on October 7," the press secretary said, calling Jan. 6 an "attack on democracy."

Jean-Pierre cautioned that she could not directly comment on 2024 or the Department of Justice cases against Capitol rioters.

She added later that it's "grotesque" to compare those charged and convicted with taking part in the Capitol riot with hostages, especially when many hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"It is grotesque to make those types of comparison, and the president spoke very forcefully of how he saw Jan. 6 and laid out there’s a choice that we have to make here, we have a choice to make. The American people have a choice to make," she said.