The pre-recorded testimony of the former president’s first-born son was played at Thursday’s hearing. In his texts to Mark Meadows, Mr Trump Jr appeared to beg him to force his father, Donald Trump, to stop the attack on the Capitol by his followers. “He needs to condemn this shit. Right now. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough,” Trump Jr. said in one of the text messages to Meadows that appeared on screen. Mr Meadows replied: “I’m pushing it hard. Agree.” “She (is) the one you go to the mattresses,” Mr. Trump Jr. replied. “They’re going to try to (reveal) his entire legacy on this if it gets worse.” In his interview with the committee on January 6, the former president’s son was specifically asked what he meant by the phrase “go to the mattresses.” Mr Trump Jr was heard saying it was a reference to “The Godfather” that prompted Mr Meadows to “go all in” to condemn his father for the riots. “Just a report to go all in. I think it’s a ‘Godfather’ report,” he said. Mr Trump Jr’s explanation drew humorous reactions from viewers who questioned whether they understood the line in the film and said the reference to “mafia families” was perfect for the Trumps. The phrase, used in the context of Mario Puzo’s classic novel, means preparing for a long war. “Junior’s ‘Godfather’ reference to ‘going to the mattresses’ makes absolutely no sense in the context he said it. This refers to people sleeping on mattresses in hideouts and not going home during a war between mafia families. I guess his messed up mind couldn’t even get it right,” said Twitter user Ron Filipkowski. “Is there anything more ‘Donald Trump Jr.’ than using a phrase from The Godfather and having no idea what it means?” said another user Linka Banks. One Twitter user also noted that “the room laughed derisively at his response” when Trump Jr. said “go all in” was a reference to The Godfather. Much of Thursday’s hearing involved firsthand White House officials such as Cassidy Hutchinson and Pat Cipollone, as well as Matt Pottinger, the former deputy national security adviser. The hearing also showed Trump refusing to say he “lost the election” in new footage of him rehearsing his speech. It also showed radio broadcasts from terrified Secret Service agents worried for their own safety and that of Mike Pence. According to the unnamed official, some agents even left messages for family members worried they wouldn’t return.
