Most Americans say Trump only somewhat to blame or not really to blame for Jan. 6, poll says — a reversal from results of survey taken days after 2021 riot

Most Americans now say former President Donald Trump was only somewhat to blame or not really to blame for the Jan. 6 riot at the United States Capitol, according to NBC News, citing results from the network's latest poll.

What are the details?

Only 45 percent of Americans say Trump was “solely” or “mainly” responsible for the rioting on Jan. 6, the new polls says, according to NBC News, adding that 55 percent say Trump was only somewhat responsible or not really responsible for the Capitol riots.

Those numbers represent a reversal compared to the results of a network poll taken in January 2021, just days after the riot, NBC News said. Back then 52 percent said Trump either was solely or mainly responsible for the riot as compared to 47 percent who said he wasn't responsible, the network added.

The network also said the lower percentage of people blaming Trump is an "across the board" result: Democrats went from 91 percent holding him responsible in January 2021 to 87 percent now; Republicans went from 11 percent holding him responsible in January 2021 to 9 percent now; independents went from 44 percent holding him responsible in January 2021 to 41 percent now, NBC News said.

Many gathered in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, were there to protest what they viewed as a stolen election which saw then-former Vice President Joe Biden ascending to presidency.

Anything else?

NBC News said its latest poll numbers come from a network survey conducted May 5-7, 9-10 with a margin of error of plus-minus 4.38 percentage points. The network added that the poll results were saved to coincide with this week’s public hearings on the Jan. 6 riot.

The nine-member House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack will hold its first public hearing Thursday, NBC News said in a separate story. While the committee can't prosecute what happened when numerous individuals got into the Capitol building, its findings may influence the Justice Department to intensify its probe, the network added.

NBC News added that Republicans' main hope is that Americans don't pay much attention to the hearings, adding that a national GOP campaign strategist said if “Democrats are talking about January 6, and we’re talking about gas prices, they’re going to lose 40 seats” in the House this fall.