Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales defends Trump endorsement despite Trump downplaying Jan. 6

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales is defending his endorsement of former President Donald Trump despite their sharply different views on Jan. 6.

In an interview on Sunday with ABC News «This Week» anchor George Stephanopoulos, Gonzales was repeatedly pressed on his support for Trump in the 2024 presidential race given that Trump has called participants in the U.S. Capitol attack who have been prosecuted «hostages» and downplayed the riot itself as a «beautiful day.»

Gonzales, a Texas lawmaker, noted that he was in the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to help police respond. He said he could sense the «chaos» before it unfolded.

«There was an anger built in our country then and, three years later, that anger has not stopped,» he said. «There's this division that continues to get fueled. The easiest thing to do in politics is to blame someone else. I think it's time for us as Americans to set aside our differences, and [focus on] how do we heal this country and bring it back together?»

Stephanopoulos pointed out that Gonzales' comments about Jan. 6, including calling those who participated «domestic terrorists,» have long been at odds with the former president.

Gonzales said that Trump «wasn't responsible» for Jan. 6, arguing instead that the riot broke out because people «no longer believe in the system.»

«I look at it through the lens [of] that was a dark day and I never want to see Jan. 6 happen again, or something like that or riots across our country. How do we calm everybody down? How do we bring this country together?» Gonzales said.

He maintained that the residents of his district, which includes much of Texas' border with Mexico, «aren't talking about Jan. 6» and are instead «talking about feeling safe in their homes,