From 14 Aug 2025EJ Antoni, Trump's pick to oversee job numbers, was at the Capitol on January 6The White House confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday that EJ Antoni, the conservative economist Donald Trump has chosen to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics, was in the crowd of Trump supporters that surrounded the Capitol on January 6 2021.A man of Antoni’s appearance, wearing a red varsity jacket, was caught on video posted on the conservative social network Parler walking through the crowd of Trump supporters massed outside the west side of the Capitol about 10 minutes before the mob broke through police lines and into the building.That video, archived by ProPublica, shows the man in what appears to be a varsity jacket with the University of Pennsylvania crest on it walking away from that entrance to the Capitol at about 1.51 pm that day.According to NBC News, the man also appears in other footage recorded on the east side of the Capitol building during the riot.Approached for comment by NBC News, the White House confirmed that the man in the images was Antoni.“These pictures show EJ Antoni, a bystander to the events of January 6th, observing and then leaving the Capitol area,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers wrote to NBC News. “EJ was in town for meetings, and it is wrong and defamatory to suggest EJ engaged in anything inappropriate or illegal.”Antoni, who attended a Catholic high school and then St Charles Borromeo Seminary in the Philadelphia suburbs, likely has family links to the University of Pennsylvania, which is also Trump’s alma mater.The economist’s full name, given on a commencement program from Northern Illinois University, is Erwin J Antoni III. Graduates of the University of Pennsylvania include an Erwin J Antoni, who played varsity baseball, basketball and soccer, from the class of 1948, and an Erwin J Antoni Jr, who graduated in 1978.As Americans try to learn more about Antoni, given the sudden prominence of the previously obscure economist, his taste in art has also been a subject of online discussion.In a podcast appearance in 2023, Antoni acknowledged that a painting of a battleship behind him during the recording was from the fleet of Nazi Germany.Asked by the podcast host if the ship was the Bismarck, which engaged in naval battles with British forces in 1941, Antoni said it was. “The Bismarck, yep, in all his glory,” Antoni said.A 2023 podcast appearance by EJ Antoni in which he acknowledged that the painting behind him was of the Bismarck, a battleship from the fleet of Nazi Germany.Antoni used the same painting as the backdrop for subsequent media appearances during and after the 2024 election campaign.A 2024 interview with economist EJ Antoni.Key events14 Aug 2025Closing summary14 Aug 2025Kari Lake plans to replace non-partisan Voice of America news with far-right Newsmax and One America News14 Aug 2025EJ Antoni, Trump's pick to oversee job numbers, was at the Capitol on January 613 Aug 2025Trump signs executive order to cut regulations on commercial space firms, boosting Musk and Bezos13 Aug 2025Trump revokes Biden's executive order to promote competition in US economy without explaining why13 Aug 2025Newsom teases Thursday redistricting announcement in mock Trump style13 Aug 2025Illinois judge rejects Texas attorney general's request to order arrest of Texas Democrats13 Aug 2025Federal judge strikes down Trump rule that allows religious exemption for birth control coverage13 Aug 2025Texas Democrats hold press conference in Chicago13 Aug 2025Here's a recap of the day so far13 Aug 2025White House says dozens arrested in DC as mayor warns of ‘authoritarian push’13 Aug 2025Ice conducting immigration enforcement operations with police and other federal agencies in DC – report13 Aug 2025Trump defense official led thinktank that spread lies about Tren de Aragua13 Aug 2025Trump says he can't convince Putin to stop targeting civilians in Ukraine13 Aug 2025Trump promises 'very severe consequences' if Putin doesn't agree to ceasefire in Friday meeting13 Aug 2025Trump says upcoming meeting with Putin as 'setting the table' for three-leader summit13 Aug 2025'We're going to be asking for extensions,' Trump says of 30-day limit on DC police takeover13 Aug 2025Trump will host Kennedy Center Honors13 Aug 2025Trump visits Kennedy Center, announcing this year's honorees13 Aug 2025Appeals court rules Trump administration does not have to make foreign aid payments13 Aug 2025German chancellor Merz says Trump call was "very good, constructive"13 Aug 2025Trump considering list of 11 Fed chair replacements – report13 Aug 2025Trump praises European leaders as 'great people' ahead of calls today13 Aug 2025DC mayor Bowser hardens stance on Trump, calls deployment of national guard an 'authoritarian push'13 Aug 2025Opening summary: Trump at Kennedy Center same day that honors are announcedShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureClosing summaryThis bring our live coverage of the second Trump administration to a close for the day, but we will return on Thursday morning. 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