Photo emerges of top Trump official with former Proud Boys leader, and what’s worse is he was convicted for Jan 6 riots

A photo has surfaced showing Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Enrique Tarrio, the former national chair of the Proud Boys, who was convicted for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, as reported by The Hill. Tarrio, who previously received a pardon from President Trump, shared the image on X, sparking a lot of discussion.

The picture was snapped at the inaugural “Shield of the Americas” summit, which took place in Doral, Florida. Tarrio posted the photo with a caption that read, in part, “With @SecRubio at the Shield of the Americas summit. By far the President Trumps choices for his cabinet. Proud of this Cuban! Abajo con el comunismo!”

He later corrected himself, adding, “The best choice by the President Excuse me.” The Spanish phrase, “abajo con el comunismo,” translates to “down with communism,” a clear reference to the Cuban regime which has faced an oil embargo from President Trump.

Enrique Tarrio led the white nationalist organization, the Proud Boys, from 2018 to 2021

Tarrio was sentenced in 2023 to 22 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. However, President Trump pardoned Tarrio and other January 6 rioters last year, an action that certainly generated quite a bit of controversy.

The “Shield of the Americas” summit itself, hosted by the State Department, was designed to bring together the U.S.’s “strongest likeminded allies in our hemisphere.” Its stated goals are to promote freedom, security, and prosperity in the region. According to a release, this new coalition aims to work together to stop foreign interference, combat criminal and narco-terrorist gangs, and address illegal and mass immigration.

President Trump spoke at the event, which included various Latin American leaders and members of his administration. He announced, “On this historic day, we come together to announce a brand-new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels plaguing our region.” This summit followed President Trump’s earlier announcement on Thursday that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem would serve as a special envoy for this new security initiative.

Tarrio has a history in Florida politics as well, beyond his leadership of the Proud Boys. He served as the Florida grassroots director for Latinos for Trump and even ran as a candidate for a Florida U.S. House seat in 2020. It’s worth remembering that he was also arrested for simple assault near the Capitol last year during a protest after a counterprotester filed charges against him. This photo certainly adds another layer to his public profile.