Biden Urges Americans to Remember Jan. 6, Warns Against Forgetting Threats to Democracy
Biden condemned Trump for inciting the Capitol riot, where supporters disrupted the 2020 election certification and attacked law enforcement. Over 1,000 people have been convicted, with the violence linked to several deaths, including officer suicides.
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden urged Americans to remember the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, calling it a “genuine threat to democracy” and warning against efforts to erase or downplay the events. His remarks come as former President Donald Trump, now president-elect, faces sentencing on Friday for a federal conviction—just 10 days before his inauguration.
Biden condemned Trump’s role in inciting the riot, where supporters stormed the Capitol, disrupted the certification of the 2020 election, and attacked law enforcement. Over 1,000 people have been convicted for their roles in the assault, which was linked to multiple deaths, including officer suicides.
“We cannot pretend it didn’t happen,” Biden said, criticizing Republicans for trying to rewrite history. He noted the failure to honor Capitol police with a plaque mandated by Congress and Trump’s repeated claims that the riot was a “peaceful gathering.”
Biden contrasted his peaceful transition in 2020, despite Trump’s resistance, with his invitation to Trump following the 2024 election. Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the certification of Trump’s victory, symbolizing a continued commitment to democratic norms.
“Any nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it,” Biden said. “We must never forget what happened.”
