On the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riots on Thursday, United States (US) President Joe Biden blamed his predecessor Donald Trump for spinning a “web of lies” and said that his failure to concede defeat in the 2020 election caused the ensuing violence.
Biden was speaking at the Statuary Hall outside the House Chamber, the building that was attacked on January 6, 2021. While refraining from making any direct reference to Trump, he said, “For the first time in our history, a president not just lost the election, he tried to prevent a peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol.” Biden added that to Trump, “power” takes precedence over “principle,” just as his “bruised ego” was placed ahead of “democracy.”
Recalling the violent episode, Biden expressed dismay that Trump sat in the White House “watching it all on television and doing nothing” even as “the nation’s Capitol was under siege.” He also highlighted the importance of deterring such an incident from happening again and declared that the country was “in a battle for the soul of America.” The President added that while he did not seek the fight that the Capitol faced last year, he would not “shrink from it either” and vowed to defend the nation to protect the “dagger at the throat of democracy.”
Similarly, Vice President Kamala Harris said that the American spirit was facing a test and the “work ahead will not be easy.” She echoed Biden’s call for a united defence against the threats to the democratic fabric of the country.
Meanwhile, Democrat legislators participated in a day-long series of events to mark the riot anniversary. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the events “are intended as an observance of reflection, remembrance and recommitment, in a spirit of unity, patriotism and prayerfulness.” She further noted that the insurrectionists had failed to defeat democracy due to the dedication of Congress, which reassembled to certify Biden’s victory, and the Capitol police.
However, a majority of Republicans did not participate in the ceremonies. Trump’s allies, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, said the party had planned their own “Republican response” to the incident. However, Trump’s event in Palm Beach, Florida, where he reportedly intended to defend the rioters, was cancelled.
Responding to the speeches at the ceremony, Trump accused the Democrats of wanting to “own the day of January 6” to “stoke fears and divide America.” He blamed Biden for using him for political gain, further criticising Biden’s policies on inflation, Afghanistan, and immigration. Likewise, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recalled the incident as a “dark day” for the US and accused the Democrats of attempting to “exploit this anniversary to advance partisan policy goals that long predated this event.”
Meanwhile, Trump also announced the launch of his social media app TRUTH Social, which aims to provide an alternative to Twitter. The former president has been at war with Twitter after several of his tweets were flagged for spreading false information. In fact, during the Capitol riots, his account was permanently suspended.
The January 6 incident, viewed as an “unprecedented” attack on US democracy, saw a mob of Trump’s supporters storm into the Capitol building as Congress assembled to certify Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. While deliberations went on inside the Capitol in Washington, DC, thousands of MAGA supporters marched to the building as part of a “Save America Rally” to overturn the election results.
The rally turned into complete chaos a few hours later, as protesters clashed with Capitol police and breached the building. The House immediately went into recess, the floor was evacuated, and the police made requests for more law enforcement, including federal authorities. Five people died as a result of the violence, and over 725 individuals have been charged for disrupting the democratic transition of power.
Outgoing president Trump was blamed for inciting the violence in political circles, as he urged his followers to “fight like hell.” He addressed the crowds and urged them to continue their protests, saying: “We will never give up. We will never concede.” Trump alleged that the election was rigged, a claim refuted by his own Justice Department, and declared himself victorious.
Other Republican leaders also amplified these allegations, instigating supporters into participating in the riots. Consequently, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on charges of inciting insurrection by his supporters during the Capitol riots. However, despite a scathing case made against him, the Republican-led Senate voted 52-48 to acquit Trump on the charges of abuse of power and 53-47 on the obstruction of Congress. Moreover, the acquittal means that he can once again run for office, possibly in 2024 as he has hinted on a few occasions already.
Furthermore, Biden set up a House panel to investigate the insurrection plans. The committee plans to spend the coming months exploring and assessing the proceedings at public hearings. The panel has already issued subpoenas to Trump’s allies and former associates. Apart from the nine-member congressional committee, the Justice Department has launched criminal probes into the incident. Attorney General Merrick Garland has vowed to do anything it takes to hold those accountable for the events of January 6.