Biden speaks on U.S. Capitol insurrection
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke to the nation marking the first anniversary of the U.S. Capitol insurrection.
Biden criticized former President Donald Trump and his supporters who carried out the attack.
“For the first time in our history, a president not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol,” Biden said. “But they failed.”
On Jan. 6, hundreds of Trump supporters, who have since been called insurrectionists, used their fists and flagpoles to break through the windows of the Capitol and gain entry.
“I will stand in this breach,” he declared, his voice rising.
The president and congressional Democrats started the day in Statuary Hall, one of several spots where rioters swarmed a year ago and interrupted the electoral count. Biden drew a contrast between the truth of what happened and the false narratives that have sprung up about the Capitol assault, including the continued refusal by many Republicans to affirm that Biden won the 2020 election.
“Democracy was attacked,” Biden said at the Capitol. “We the people endure. We the people prevailed.”
Biden said the whole world could see the truth for themselves.
“Here is the God’s truth about Jan. 6, 2021,” Biden said. “They were looking to subvert the Constitution.”
A series of remembrance events during the day will be widely attended by Democrats, in person and virtually, but almost every Republican on Capitol Hill will be absent.
Others, including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, were absent, with a contingent of colleagues attending the funeral for former Sen. Johnny Isakson in Georgia.
Rep. Liz Cheney, chair of the House committee investigating the attack, was one of the few GOP lawmakers attending the Capitol ceremonies.
Cheney said Trump continues the same rhetoric many insurrectionists used to justify their actions.
“Unfortunately, too many in my own party are embracing the former president, are looking the other way or minimizing the danger,” she told NBC’s “Today.” “That’s how democracies die. We simply cannot let that happen.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, too, is marking the anniversary through a scheduled moment of silence in the House. During the incident, many House members were evacuated and some were trapped as the rioters tried to break in.
Later the Democratic leaders will hold a moderated discussion with historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham; and a session featuring testimonials from members who were there that day. While many lawmakers will be absent due to concerns about COVID-19, several of the events will be livestreamed so they can participate.
