President Joe Biden reflected on the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack, criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s role in the events leading up to it just hours before Congress certifies the 2024 election results.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday in the East Room, Biden asserted that Trump’s actions following the 2020 election posed a significant threat to democracy by inciting a mob to storm the Capitol on the day of certification.
“What he did was a genuine threat to democracy,” Biden said. “And I’m hopeful that we’re beyond it.” He emphasized the need for the U.S. to “get back to establishing basic democratic norms.”
Biden’s remarks come a day before Congress convenes to finalize the 2024 presidential election results, exactly four years after Trump supporters attempted to disrupt the process, fueled by false claims of voter fraud.
Throughout his presidency, Biden has stressed the importance of remembering January 6 to prevent such events from recurring, holding Trump partly accountable for spreading misinformation that fueled the violence.
As Trump prepares to take office again, he has frequently sought to recast January 6, 2021, as a day of “love” and “peace.” Despite this, Biden has reiterated the grim reality of the attack, which resulted in five deaths, hundreds of injuries, and over 1,400 federal charges against rioters. Trump, however, has defended his supporters’ actions and pledged to pardon those convicted.
In addition to his remarks, Biden wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post, warning against efforts to rewrite the history of January 6. “An unrelenting effort has been underway to erase the history of that day… This is not what happened,” he wrote, recounting the violence and test of democracy, while also highlighting how democracy ultimately prevailed.
Biden plans to attend the upcoming inauguration, emphasizing the importance of upholding tradition and fostering a smooth transition, in contrast to Trump’s absence from the 2021 ceremony.
