Trump shares clip promoting January 6 protests in DC that proud boys will witness incognito against

President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a video encouraging supporters to join protests in Washington DC on January 6, which will feature members of the far-right group Proud Boys.

The 30-second clip, posted by the president on Twitter, touts the upcoming “March for Trump” protests as potentially the “biggest event in Washington DC history.” The planned protests were staged in support of Trump, who lost the presidential election in November. Participants intend to demand that Congress overturn election results in the changing states on the day lawmakers are ready to certify Electoral College votes, confirming the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.

Several Trump allies are expected to speak at the events, including George Papadopoulos, former political adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign, and Roger Stone, a longtime ally – both men were recently pardoned by the president.

Enrique Tarrio, president of Proud Boys, announced this week that members of the far-right group will also attend the “incognito” events.

“The ProudBoys will be performing in record numbers on January 6, but this time with a twist,” Tarrio said in a statement shared on Speak, a “free speech” social media platform. “We won’t be wearing our traditional black and yellow. We’ll be incognito and disperse around downtown DC in small teams.

Tarrio also teased that the group “could dress all in BLACK for the occasion”.

Thousands of pro-Trump Americans are expected to attend the protests on Wednesday as Congress meets to certify electoral votes. Biden got 306 Electoral College votes, exceeding the 270 needed to win the presidency, but Trump, with 232 Electoral College votes, refused to give in.

Since early November, Trump and his campaign have filed dozens of lawsuits in swing states in an attempt to reverse his electoral defeat. Virtually all of his efforts failed in court, but the president continued to argue that widespread electoral fraud caused him to lose the election to Biden.

The planned rallies and protests will see pro-Trump supporters march around the Capitol, Washington Monument and Freedom Plaza. Online discussions between members of far-right groups, conspiracy theorists and white supremacists suggest that violence involving guns could also erupt during the events.

However, Trump continued to promote the protests. On Wednesday he tweeted: “JANUARY SIXTH, See you in Washington!”

The authorities have prepared officers to ensure that events are peaceful. Washington DC Police Chief Robert J. Contee III told the Washington post that “violence will not be tolerated”.

Newsweek contacted the White House for comment.