False. Pelosi, Schumer, and Pence repeatedly tried to get help from within the Capitol. The President controlled the National Guard and never authorized it. PolitiFact +2

Trump Had the Authority — and Didn’t Use It

• The D.C. National Guard is federalized, meaning the President (not the Speaker or local officials) has ultimate authority to deploy it in emergencies like January 6.
• Former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller told the bipartisan Jan. 6 Committee that President Trump never gave an order to deploy the Guard that day.
• Multiple key witnesses to the Committee confirmed there is no record of Trump authorizing National Guard troops before or during the attack, despite the authority to do so.

Pelosi, Schumer, and Pence Repeatedly Tried to Get Help

While trapped inside the Capitol, House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer made urgent appeals to military leadership for assistance as rioters overwhelmed police.

Vice President Mike Pence’s aides confirmed that Pence issued explicit requests for National Guard support to help protect lawmakers and the Capitol.

Just Security

The Guard’s Response was Delayed — and Happened too Late

• A comprehensive House Oversight Committee timeline shows at least 12 urgent requests for National Guard support as the Capitol was under siege.
• Acting Defense Department authorization for Guard troops did not occur until about 4:32 p.m. — more than three hours after the Capitol had been breached.
• Witness testimony to Congress confirms Guard commanders had troops ready nearby but were not told to deploy until late in the day.

Bonus Point: While the Capitol was under attack and crucial security decisions were not being made, Trump was reaching out to lawmakers — seeking to delay the certification rather than calling in help. Independent

If political actors can dodge responsibility for failing to defend the Capitol, that invites future leaders to excuse their failures in crises.