CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins aired previously unreleased footage on August 10, 2026, showing former President Donald Trump using a catering truck as a decoy vehicle to flee the Capitol during the January 6, 2021, riot. The video, obtained by the Washington Post, captures the moment Trump was rushed into the truck by Secret Service agents after refusing to go directly to the armored presidential vehicle.
The footage contradicts earlier accounts that Trump was safely escorted to his limousine. Instead, it shows him being driven away in an unmarked catering truck, a move that security experts called highly unusual and potentially dangerous. The Washington Post report, published the same day, details how the Secret Service scrambled to improvise the escape route as rioters breached the Capitol.
Collins, in her broadcast, emphasized the significance of the tape, saying it 'shows the chaos and improvisation of that day.' The video has reignited debate over Trump's actions during the insurrection, with critics questioning his delay in condemning the violence. Trump's representatives have not commented on the footage.
The Washington Post's investigation, based on internal documents and interviews, reveals that Trump initially resisted leaving the stage, and the catering truck was used as a last-minute measure to ensure his safety. The Secret Service has not disputed the authenticity of the video.
