Biden Reflects on Capitol Attack, Criticizes Trump Ahead of Election Certification

President Joe Biden on Sunday reflected on the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, calling it a “genuine threat to democracy” and taking a jab at President-elect Donald Trump‘s role in the violent event. Speaking to reporters in the East Room of the White House, Biden emphasized the need to uphold democratic norms as Congress prepares to certify the 2024 presidential election results.

Biden’s remarks came just a day before Congress was set to convene to certify the election results, exactly four years after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election. The president has consistently held Trump partially responsible for the attack, citing the former president’s false claims of widespread voter fraud.

“I think what he did was a genuine threat to democracy,” Biden said. “And I’m hopeful that we’re beyond it.” He added that the United States must “get back to establishing basic democratic norms.”

Five people died in connection with the January 6 attack, and hundreds were injured. Over 1,400 rioters have been charged with federal crimes related to the event. Despite this, Trump has repeatedly downplayed the violence, referring to the day as one of “love” and “peace,” and has promised to pardon those convicted of crimes.

In addition to his comments, Biden penned an op-ed emphasizing the importance of remembering the attack for what it was. “An unrelenting effort has been underway to rewrite — even erase — the history of that day,” he wrote. “To tell us we didn’t see what we all saw with our own eyes. To dismiss concerns about it as some kind of partisan obsession. To explain it away as a protest that just got out of hand. This is not what happened.”

Biden described January 6 as “a day when our democracy was put to the test” but offered a message of hope, stating that democracy “prevailed.” Unlike Trump in 2021, Biden has directed his team to ensure a smooth transition of power, setting aside historic animosity and making his team available to Trump’s transition team.

Congress is expected to certify the 2024 election results on Monday without interruptions, while Trump is anticipated to remain at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.