Former President Donald Trump marked the third anniversary of the January 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol by casting the migrant surge on the southern border as the “real insurrection while campaigning in Iowa on Saturday. Trump continued to claim that countries have been emptying jails and mental institutions to fuel a record number of migrant crossings, despite there being no evidence to support these claims. His remarks came just over a week before the Republican nomination process begins with Iowa's kickoff caucuses.

Trump's campaign is hoping to turn out thousands of supporters who have never caucused before as part of a show of force aimed at denying his rivals momentum and demonstrating his organizing prowess heading into the general election. His chief rivals, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, were also campaigning in the state as they battle for second place in hopes of emerging as the most viable alternative to Trump, who is leading by wide margins in early state and national polls.

Trump used the trip to step up his attacks against Haley, who has been gaining ground. He cast her as insufficiently conservative and accused her of being disloyal for running against him. Haley's campaign has pointed to his escalating attention, including a new attack ad, as evidence Trump is worried about her momentum. Trump also continued to bemoan the treatment of those who have been jailed for participating in the riot, again labeling them hostages. More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the violence, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.

His speech in Newton, Iowa, came a day after President Joe Biden delivered a speech near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he cast Trump as a grave threat to democracy and called January 6 a day when “we nearly lost America — lost it all. Trump warned of WWIII if Biden is re-elected, adding, This is our last chance to save America. Trump warned of WWIII if Biden is re-elected, adding, This is our last chance to save America. He also mocked Biden, saying he has overseen economic decline and invited chaos at the nation's borders, while failing to stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He declared that if elected, he will pardon many and warned of WWIII if Biden is re-elected, adding, This is our last chance to save America.