Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is set to deliver her campaign’s “closing argument” on Tuesday in Washington, drawing a contrast between her vision for the country and the lies told by former President Donald Trump about the 2020 election. Trump’s incitement of a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, led to his criminal charges for trying to overturn the election. His false claims of widespread voter fraud and attempts to persuade election officials were dismissed by judges, including those he had appointed.
Trump had called on his supporters to gather in Washington on January 6, the day of the congressional certification of the presidential vote results. In his speech, he continued to push conspiracy theories and urged then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse certifying the election results. Trump’s rhetoric blaming the media and Democrats for “stealing” the election fueled the anger of his supporters. He instructed the crowd to march to the Capitol, leading to the events of January 6, where rioters breached the building and caused chaos.
During the attack on the Capitol, Trump showed little concern for the safety of those inside. A former White House aide revealed that Trump was dismissive when told that some in the crowd were armed, and he refused to call for increased law enforcement assistance. As the violence unfolded, Pence was forced to hide in the Capitol while rioters roamed the building. Eventually, Trump issued a video message urging people to go home, but the damage had already been done. Seven people died in the aftermath of the attack, including a rioter shot by police and officers who later took their own lives.
Since the events of January 6, over 1,500 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol siege. Trump, who has launched his campaign for the 2024 election, continues to downplay the severity of the attack and portray the rioters as patriots. He has made the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election a central theme of his campaign, promising to help those involved in the attack once he returns to office. Despite his efforts to rewrite history, the violence of January 6 continues to be a defining moment in American politics, with Harris aiming to capitalize on the stark contrast between her vision for the country and Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
