President Donald Trump declined to rule out providing government payments to January 6 defendants who assaulted police officers, while former Vice President Mike Pence said violent rioters should receive no compensation.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump expressed support for a proposed "anti-weaponization fund" that could provide payments to individuals prosecuted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. When asked specifically whether people who attacked police officers should receive taxpayer money, Trump said "I wouldn't be inclined to say so, but I have to see it."

Trump called the proposed fund "a great idea" and said he would be "disappointed" if Republicans failed to approve it. He indicated he would personally contribute, stating "I'd pay" applicants "the kind of money they deserve" if the fund is not established through official channels.

Meanwhile, Pence took a firmer stance against compensation during an interview on HBO's "Real Time." The former vice president said January 6 rioters who assaulted police officers, vandalized government property, or sought to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election "should never get a dime."

The proposed anti-weaponization fund has been discussed among some Republican lawmakers as a way to provide financial assistance to individuals who claim they were unfairly prosecuted for their role in the January 6 events. More than 1,000 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, with cases ranging from unlawful entry to assaulting law enforcement officers.