Biden Urges Americans to Remember Jan. 6, Vows No Repeat This Year/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden reflected on the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, urging Americans not to forget the violent assault while assuring a peaceful transfer of power as Donald Trump returns to the White House. Writing in The Washington Post, Biden condemned efforts to rewrite the history of that day and emphasized the importance of protecting democracy.
Key Points
- Reflection on Jan. 6: Biden called the Capitol attack a “violent insurrection” and a test of democracy.
- Peaceful Transition: Assured an orderly certification of Trump’s 2024 victory and committed to attending his inauguration.
- Historical Memory: Warned against efforts to downplay or erase the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
- Presidential Medal Awards: Biden honored Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson for their work investigating the Capitol riot.
- Democracy at Risk: Reiterated concerns about protecting democratic principles in the U.S.
Biden Urges Americans to Remember Jan. 6, Vows No Repeat This Year
Deep Look
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, President Joe Biden commemorated the resilience of American democracy while reflecting on the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021.
Biden recalled the violent mob that stormed the Capitol to block the certification of his victory over Trump. He highlighted the contrast between that day’s chaos and the expected calm during Monday’s certification of Trump’s 2024 election win.
Biden’s Reflections
“We should commit to remembering Jan. 6, 2021, every year,” Biden wrote. “It was a day when our democracy was put to the test and prevailed.”
Biden emphasized the importance of preserving the truth about the attack, warning against efforts to rewrite history:
“To tell us we didn’t see what we all saw with our own eyes. We cannot allow the truth to be lost.”
Peaceful Transition of Power
Biden assured Americans that the certification of Trump’s victory would proceed peacefully, reflecting a return to the tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
- Biden’s Commitment: “I have invited the incoming president to the White House on the morning of Jan. 20 and will be present for his inauguration that afternoon,” he wrote.
- Lessons from Jan. 6: “Democracy — even in America — is never guaranteed,” Biden added.
Ongoing Concerns
Despite Biden’s assurances, Trump’s continued rhetoric raises concerns. The president-elect has denied his 2020 loss, mused about staying beyond the Constitution’s two-term limit, and promised to pardon some of the more than 1,250 individuals convicted for their roles in the Capitol siege.
When asked if he still viewed Trump as a threat to democracy, Biden responded:
“I think what he did was a genuine threat to democracy. I’m hopeful we’re beyond that now.”
Honoring Jan. 6 Efforts
Last week, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the congressional investigation into the Capitol riot. The awards highlighted their role in uncovering the truth about the events of Jan. 6.
Looking Ahead
As Biden prepares to hand over power, he expressed hope that Americans would safeguard democracy.
“We’ve got to get back to the basic, normal transfer of power,” Biden said. “We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault.”
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