Four Years after Capitol Riot, US Congress Set to Certify Trump’s Victory
Trump gestures with a bloodied face while he is assisted by US Secret Service personnel after he was shot in the right ear during a campaign rally in US. July 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Exactly four years after Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn his 2020 election defeat, lawmakers gathered on January 6 to certify his 2024 victory. The session marks the culmination of an extraordinary political comeback for the twice-impeached, criminally convicted leader. The 78-year-old Trump will return to the presidency after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election, an outcome that cements his dominance over the Republican Party.
Adding to the tension, a powerful snowstorm is set to blanket Washington overnight, casting a dramatic backdrop over the proceedings. Trump’s victory certification takes place under heightened security, with fencing erected around the Capitol as a precaution. This session will launch the final countdown to his inauguration on January 20, taking place on the same Capitol steps where rioters disrupted American democracy in 2021.
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The process is a particularly uncomfortable one for Kamala Harris, who is constitutionally required to preside over the certification as vice president. For Trump, the moment represents the ultimate vindication after years of political turmoil. In the immediate aftermath of the Capitol riots, even leaders within his own party distanced themselves, yet today, the Republican Party stands united behind him. As one observer put it, “By almost any measure, Trump has navigated a remarkable return to power.”
Despite the expected smooth certification, the nation remains uneasy. The year has begun with unsettling events, including a mass shooting in New Orleans on New Year’s Day and a suicide outside a Trump property in Las Vegas. These incidents add to the underlying tension as the country watches Trump’s resurgence unfold. Meanwhile, former President Jimmy Carter’s passing has initiated a week of funeral ceremonies, with flags at government buildings ordered to fly at half-staff for a month, including during Trump’s inauguration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned lawmakers against leaving Washington, citing the storm. “Do not leave town,” he urged during a Fox News interview, cautioning against the risk of being stranded by the blizzard. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters, declared her determination to attend the session, stating, “I’ll walk to the Capitol if I have to.”
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The memory of January 6, 2021, remains a divisive chapter in American history. On that day, Trump encouraged his supporters to “fight like hell” in a speech outside the White House. Thousands stormed the Capitol, attacking police and forcing lawmakers to flee. Four rioters died that day, and four police officers later died by suicide. While Congress eventually certified Joe Biden’s victory, the trauma of the event lingered.
However, for many voters, the Capitol riots are no longer a priority. Trump has continued to deny wrongdoing, and the Republican Party has largely moved on. Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed concerns about revisiting the events of 2021, saying, “You can’t be looking in the rearview mirror.”
Trump’s promise to pardon January 6 participants if reelected has sparked renewed controversy. Aquilino Gonell, a Capitol Police officer injured in the riots, expressed his frustration in a recent statement: “I sometimes wonder why I risked my life to defend our elected officials from a mob inspired by Mr. Trump, only to see him return to power stronger than ever.”
As Trump’s second inauguration approaches, the nation remains divided, grappling with the implications of his return and the lasting scars of January 6. The event serves as both a reminder of the fragility of democracy and a testament to Trump’s enduring influence over American politics.
