The FBI took to Twitter Thursday morning to ask people to share videos and pictures of people who may have instigated the violence that erupted when a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol building.
But the tips that flooded in may not have been exactly what the agency was looking for.
Thousands of people responded to the FBI’s call for assistance, with many quipping that the person investigators may want to speak with is currently residing at the White House.
“Did some hard journalistic investigating here and I think I’ve got your answer boys, no need to thank me,” one person wrote in a tweet that included a screenshot of President Donald Trump.
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“His Twitter handle is @realDonaldTrump & you already have his address,” another replied.
The FBI’s inquiry came after a pro-Trump mob seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election rushed the US Capitol Wednesday, pushing past police and forcing elected officials to take shelter inside the building. Four people died in the chaos, according to reports.
At the time, Congress was meeting to count the electoral college votes reaffirming President-elect Joe Biden’s win.
Just hours before the unrest began, Trump addressed his supporters at a rally near the White House, where he called the election results “false” and “fraudulent” and urged attendees to “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” to the Capitol following the speech.
“We’re going to try and give our Republicans — the weak ones, because the strong ones don’t need any of our help — we are going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country,” Trump said.
Once order was restored Wednesday, Congress reconvened and confirmed Biden as the presidential election winner. After the vote, Trump said in a statement Thursday “there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.”
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But when the FBI tweeted it was accepting “digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6” to identify those who invaded the building, the scorn — and snark — was swift.
The FBI is seeking to identify individuals instigating violence in Washington, D.C. We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6. If you have information, visit https://t.co/buMd8vYXzH.
— FBI (@FBI) January 7, 2021
“How about starting with Donald Trump and his 128 co-conspirators in the House and Senate?” Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark replied.
“Found one,” said US Representative Karen Bass of California, who shared a picture of Trump on stage at a rally.
Others implicated Trump’s children, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump, as well as the president’s longtime lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who called for a “trial by combat” over the election results at Wednesday’s rally before Trump appeared on stage.
“Let’s start here,” Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro tweeted to the FBI, tagging the usernames of Trump, Giuliani, and several others.
The most frequent sardonic tip: simply take a walk down to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
“Start at the West Wing and work your way down fellas,” one person replied.
Attn: @FBI https://t.co/oDNqN7d66C pic.twitter.com/5EEpOsWYvD
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 7, 2021
Let's start here: @tedcruz @realDonaldTrump @HawleyMO @KenPaxtonTX @RudyGiuliani https://t.co/Y0jYHSTYjP
— Joaquin Castro (@Castro4Congress) January 7, 2021
Hey @FBI have you managed to identify this guy yet? https://t.co/PgRIbs7aPx pic.twitter.com/Yo1yQJae4R
— Nir Kahn (@Nir_Kahn) January 7, 2021
Found one! https://t.co/LL6n3vTYRb pic.twitter.com/pwRMSZYJaM
— Yannick (@nickinsight) January 7, 2021
Check the bunker at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. https://t.co/cX8npfhQbO
— Dana Goldberg (@DGComedy) January 7, 2021
Found one. https://t.co/WNLkBl9MYI pic.twitter.com/Cx7obp0p61
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 7, 2021
Here you go https://t.co/mOh9UYblSg pic.twitter.com/hvuEJu86Iv
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) January 7, 2021
The ring leader lives over at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. https://t.co/FD52uBxGOW
— G O L D I E. (@goldietaylor) January 7, 2021
Yes whoever could have instigated this it’s such a mystery https://t.co/vQn4yLStFb
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 7, 2021
Today is not the day to pretend the FBI grew a conscious & stopped accessing the NSA’s domestic surveillance programs. Yesterday was the prime hypothetical excuse we were all given to justify years of illegal data collection & spying on Americans. https://t.co/WN0qGDBeN8
— Jesse Ventura (@GovJVentura) January 7, 2021
Ummm.... they are doing interviews on Fox News live from the Willard Hotel and milling about the lobbies of the Marriott. Hope you can crack the case. https://t.co/7wDtvv9AnM
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) January 7, 2021
Seeking to identify the men who planned openly on social media and streamed the entire insurrection on YouTube while shouting their own names. https://t.co/CQHokPyKqG
— Heron Greenesmith, Esq. (@herong) January 7, 2021
Hey @fbi there’s a big white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, you can’t miss it. Orange haired man inside, 310+ pounds, 5’10 but wears 2 inch lifts, tiny hands, ill fitting suit, bad fake tan. Whines. Answers to “Don” or “John Barron.” It’s him. 8 billion witnesses. https://t.co/MC8Ti5LHv8
— Dr. Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) January 7, 2021
Here's a tip: start with our Instigator in Chief @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/BebSXvQ2GO
— Snowflake Unleashed (@TruthAscending) January 7, 2021
Good morning @FBI,
— Justin (@JustInTime_2020) January 7, 2021
Have some details on the man you’re looking for. See below:
Name: Donald J Trump
Occupation: Outgoing President
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500
Phone Number: 202-456-1111
Twitter Handle: @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/dg3BHjvIo2
Here you go https://t.co/KwqHIOWqur pic.twitter.com/9giPgorvUS
— David Hull (@dhulldhulldhull) January 7, 2021
Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @steveannear.