President Joe Biden forcefully condemned attempts to minimize the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol in a *Washington Post* op-ed published Sunday. He characterized these efforts as an “unrelenting attempt” to rewrite history and downplay the violent insurrection by Donald Trump’s supporters, who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Biden emphasized the stark contrast between the chaos of that day and the anticipated peaceful transfer of power on January 20th, 2025.
In his piece, Biden vividly recalled the events of January 6th, 2021, stating that “violent insurrectionists attacked the Capitol.” He expressed pride in American democracy’s resilience and expressed hope that such an event would never again occur. He contrasted this with the upcoming certification of the 2024 election, a process expected to proceed without incident, representing a return to the established tradition of peaceful transitions of power.
This peaceful transition stands in stark contrast to Trump’s continued denial of his 2020 election loss, his public musings about exceeding constitutional term limits, and his promise to pardon individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol siege. Biden highlighted the significance of the certification process, emphasizing that after January 6th, 2021, its importance can no longer be taken for granted. While he avoided directly naming Trump, he decried the attempts to distort the historical record of that day, stating, “To tell us we didn’t see what we all saw with our own eyes. We cannot allow the truth to be lost.”
Biden affirmed his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power, stating his intention to invite the incoming president to the White House and attend his inauguration. He underscored the importance of remembering January 6th, 2021, not only as a test of American democracy but also as a testament to its resilience. He reiterated this sentiment in remarks to reporters earlier that day, emphasizing that the history of that day “should not be rewritten” and “should not be forgotten.”
Biden’s op-ed and his comments to reporters followed his recent awarding of the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot. These actions, alongside his earlier warnings about Trump’s threat to democracy, underscore his continued focus on ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition of power, a stark contrast to the events of the previous transfer. While expressing hope that the most serious threat to democracy has passed, Biden acknowledged the gravity of Trump’s actions.