2021 storming of the United States Capitol
Background
The 2020 U.S. presidential election took place on November 3, 2020. The incumbent president, Donald Trump, was the Republican candidate, while the Democratic candidate was Joe Biden. The election was marked by high levels of voter turnout, widespread use of mail-in ballots due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and contentious political rhetoric. After the election, President Trump and his allies made numerous unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and sought to overturn the results through legal challenges and pressure on state officials.
Lead-up to the Storming
In the weeks following the election, Trump and his allies continued to dispute the results. On December 19, 2020, Trump tweeted that a "big protest" would occur in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, the day that the United States Congress was scheduled to certify the Electoral College results. This certification is typically a ceremonial event, but the 2021 certification was marked by objections from some Republican members of Congress.
Events of January 6, 2021
On January 6, thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington, D.C. for a rally near the White House. Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and others spoke at the rally, repeating claims of election fraud and encouraging the crowd to "fight like hell". Following the rally, a large group of protesters marched to the Capitol building.
Upon reaching the Capitol, some members of the crowd breached the security barriers and entered the building. The Capitol was put on lockdown, and members of Congress were evacuated or sheltered in place. The rioters vandalized offices, stole property, and caused extensive damage. Five people died as a result of the events, including a Capitol Police officer.
Aftermath
In the days following the storming, there was widespread condemnation of the violence and calls for accountability. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for "incitement of insurrection", making him the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. The Senate later acquitted him.
The event led to increased security measures at the Capitol and in Washington, D.C. more broadly. It also sparked a broader discussion about the state of American democracy, the role of social media in spreading misinformation, and the need for accountability in political rhetoric.