WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump is surrounded by a very different Washington than he was eight years ago. Many Republicans thought his political career was over after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. But he came back stronger than ever — and brought Washington with him.

Even Republicans who once said violent rioters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law declined to criticize the presidential clemency for violent offenders, saying it was time to move on.

Around this time two years ago, as the Republican majority in the House got to work, among the earliest priorities for the party was a new, GOP-friendly investigation into the Jan. 6 attack. The endeavor would be led by Loudermilk, who faced some awkward questions about a controversial Capitol tour the day before the riot.

The Capitol Hill Republicans who pushed aggressively to ban TikTok have gone almost totally silent on President Donald Trump’s unilateral decision not to enforce the ban. Asked directly by POLITICO about Trump’s executive order to grant TikTok a reprieve in defiance of the law passed by Congress,

President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardons of more than 1,500 people charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, including individuals who assaulted police officers, stunned Republican lawmakers who witnessed firsthand the chaos on Capitol Hill four years ago.

Here’s what Republican senators told ABC News after President Donald Trump issued pardons for Jan. 6 violent offenders.

Around this time two years ago, as the Republican majority in the House got to work, among the earliest priorities for the party was a new, GOP-friendly investigation into the Jan. 6 attack. The endeavor would be led by Loudermilk, who faced some awkward questions about a controversial Capitol tour the day before the riot.

Kristi Noem, South Dakota's firebrand Republican governor, faced questioning Friday at her confirmation hearing to be secretary of homeland security. Noem, the daughter of a farmer and a former representative from South Dakota, is being questioned before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the the Interior Department as Secretary of the Interior, right, arrives with his wife Kathryn Burgum to testify before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington,

Trump’s border offensive begins   Hegseth gains momentum to lead Pentagon  Tracking the president’s tariff two-step  Trump threatens Putin over Ukraine war  President Trump on

President Donald Trump left no doubt regarding his about-face on banning TikTok when he invited the social media app’s CEO to his inauguration, where Shou Zi Chew sat next to the nominee for director of national intelligence,