Biden: Remember January 6th

On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden forcefully reiterated his condemnation of Donald Trump’s actions, warning against forgetting or minimizing the event. Biden asserted that Trump’s incitement of his supporters constituted a genuine threat to American democracy. He stressed the importance of remembering the assault and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, particularly given Trump’s imminent return to the White House. Biden emphasized the need to avoid rewriting history and downplaying the severity of the insurrection. He underscored his commitment to a peaceful transfer of power, contrasting his own actions with Trump’s refusal to concede the 2020 election and subsequent conduct.

Biden highlighted his efforts to ensure a smooth transition of power, a stark contrast to the actions of his predecessor. While he extended a cordial invitation to Trump for his return to the White House, he made it clear that his previous assessment of Trump as a threat to democracy remained unchanged. He expressed hope that the nation has moved beyond such threats, but firmly stated that the events of January 6th must not be forgotten. This sentiment was echoed in an opinion piece published in the Washington Post, where Biden warned against historical amnesia and the attempts by some to downplay or distort the significance of the attack.

Biden’s remarks also included a brief, somewhat testy exchange with reporters regarding his age. This exchange followed his assertion at a White House event that his extensive experience in international relations surpassed that of the assembled journalists. Ironically, Trump, at 78, became the oldest president ever elected in November. The President’s focus on the January 6th events comes as Congress prepares to certify Trump’s election victory, a process Biden noted should proceed without the symbolic challenges seen in the past. The upcoming certification will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris.

The President’s concerns are amplified by what Democrats perceive as an attempt to erase the memory of January 6th. They point to the failure to enact legislation honoring the Capitol Police officers who responded to the attack as evidence of this effort to rewrite history, a concern shared by Senator Peter Welch, who characterized this as an attempt to rewrite history to fit Trump’s narrative of a “peaceful gathering.” This narrative stands in stark contrast to the documented violence, property damage, and assaults on law enforcement officials that occurred on that day. Over 1,000 individuals have been convicted of crimes related to the attack, and Trump has vowed to pardon them upon his return to office. Biden’s commitment to attending Trump’s inauguration serves as a further contrast to Trump’s own refusal to attend Biden’s inauguration in 2021.