The date January 6, 2021 will live on in infamy as the day Donald Trump, a sitting President of the United States of America, incited an insurrection and tried to overthrow the government. It is a crime and should be punished.
For the weeks leading up to Congress’s certification of electoral votes confirming Joe Biden as the duly elected president, Donald Trump had been urging his often-violent white supremacist and Qanon followers to converge on Washington D.C. and do whatever was necessary to “stop the steal”.
On January 6, Trump addressed an army of his followers, falsely claiming he’d won the election and that Congress was stealing it from him. He urged his followers to march on the Capitol Building to do his bidding and prevent Joe Biden from being confirmed as the next President of the United States.
Among the other lies he told to fire up his army was that he would lead their charge on the Capitol Building. Perhaps his bone spurs acted up because as he sent his crazed army of domestic terrorists on their mission, he himself returned to the White House. Reportedly, he did however enthusiastically watch the attack on the Capitol on television, overjoyed as the lawless traitors overtook the building – spreading feces on the walls, beating police officers, and waving the Confederate flag.
When Capitol police requested aid that early afternoon, the request was denied by Trump’s Department of Defense. Let that sink in.
A true president would never have incited a riot, as Trump did. He knew full well what was going to happen. His only regret was that they failed to magically earn him a second term as president and from there on to dictator. Yes, somehow in that sick, twisted, narcissistic brain of his, Trump actual thought his rioting, lawless, white supremacist followers would succeed in making him president of life.
A true president would have taken action to stop the attack on democracy. Of course, Trump did not. He was enjoying the attack; hoping to benefit from it, in fact. President-elect Joe Biden took to the airwaves to calm tensions and call for law and order. Only after Biden challenged Trump to take charge of the situation and tell his violent followers to stand down, did Trump take action.
Trump released a video address to the rioters at the Capitol in which he again complained without merit of a stolen election, then told them “we love you” and assured them “you’re special.” These words of endorsement were not chosen lightly. It was a pre-taped video that the Trump administration released; these were scripted words not ones that slip out unchecked in a live address.
Trump’s intent was a hostile government take over. There is no argument about that. Just because it failed doesn’t mean Trump should be forgiven his part in this blatant attack on the very core of democracy.
All four living former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama voiced outrage at Trump’s actions. Obama put it best when he stated that the insurrection was “incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election.”
If Trump does not resign from office by Monday, January 11, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence should immediately take action under the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. Barring that, he should be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated that the House of Representatives will move forward with impeachment on Monday, as well as legislation that will allow Congress to remove Trump by virtue of the 25th Amendment.
According to political historian Heather Cox Richardson, an impeachment trial against Trump can convene even after he is out of office, ensuring he can never hold public office again.
Currently the impeachment resolution has just one article: “Incitement of insurrection.”
Enough said.
Peace. Love. Trust.
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