WASHINGTON, Jan 6 – Five years after the violent breach of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, the country remains sharply divided over how to remember and interpret one of the most consequential days in modern American political history. What unfolded that winter afternoon, when Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election, continues to shape debates about democracy, accountability, and political responsibility.
On that day, President Donald Trump addressed a large gathering of supporters near the White House, urging them to oppose the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s electoral victory. He told the crowd to move toward the Capitol, suggesting he would accompany them. Within hours, scenes of disorder and violence played out live across the world as rioters overwhelmed police lines, forced their way into the building, and disrupted a core democratic process. Lawmakers were evacuated, offices were ransacked, and for several tense hours, the peaceful transfer of power was in question.
As the fifth anniversary arrives, there is no unified national observance. Instead, competing events and sharply different narratives once again underline how unresolved the legacy of January 6 remains.
A Divided Capitol
Unlike other historic moments marked by official ceremonies or bipartisan statements, the anniversary of January 6 has no single memorial event endorsed by both parties. Congressional leaders have been unable to agree on a shared account of what happened or how it should be commemorated. Even a plaque honoring the law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol that day has yet to be permanently installed, a detail that has become symbolic of the broader stalemate.
On the anniversary, President Trump is scheduled to meet privately with House Republicans for a policy-focused gathering at the Kennedy Center, a venue he has sought to rebrand with his own name. Democrats, meanwhile, are holding a formal hearing featuring testimony from police officers, elected officials, and private citizens who experienced the violence firsthand. Later, Democratic lawmakers plan to gather on the Capitol steps to mark the day and reflect on its meaning.
Outside the halls of Congress, the anniversary has also drawn attention from groups aligned with Trump. Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, has called for a march retracing the route taken by rioters from the White House to the Capitol. The demonstration is intended to honor Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter who was shot and killed by police while attempting to breach a secured area near the House chamber, as well as others who died in connection with the events and aftermath of January 6.
Tarrio, who was previously sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy related to his role in orchestrating the attack, was among more than 1,500 defendants whose charges were dropped following a sweeping presidential pardon after Trump returned to the White House. In messages posted on social media platform X, Tarrio has urged participants to keep the march peaceful, warning those seeking confrontation to stay away.
The parallel events mirror the “split screen” nature of January 6 itself, when Congress continued its constitutional duty inside the Capitol while chaos unfolded outside. That contrast remains a defining image for many Americans.
Investigations and Lasting Consequences
The anniversary comes at a time when national attention is also focused on other major developments, including foreign policy actions by the current administration. Still, Democratic leaders argue that January 6 cannot be separated from ongoing concerns about democratic norms and the rule of law. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said ahead of the anniversary that the events of that day remain a powerful reminder of internal challenges to democratic principles, even as U.S. leaders speak about democracy on the global stage.
Democrats have revived the now defunct House committee that previously investigated January 6, seeking to once again place firsthand accounts on the public record. Among the expected witnesses is former Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of two Republicans who served on the original panel. His colleague on that committee, former Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, is not expected to testify. Cheney later lost her seat after being challenged by a Trump backed opponent, a political outcome often cited as evidence of the risks faced by Republicans who openly criticized Trump.
Republicans, however, have launched their own inquiry under the leadership of Representative Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Loudermilk has dismissed the Democratic hearing as partisan and argues that previous investigations unfairly targeted Trump and his allies. Instead, he and other Republicans have focused on security failures at the Capitol. These include delays in deploying the National Guard, communication breakdowns among law enforcement agencies, and the failure to detect pipe bombs placed outside the headquarters of both major political parties.
Federal authorities later arrested a Virginia man in connection with the pipe bombs. According to investigators, the suspect claimed he believed someone needed to stand up for those who thought the 2020 election had been stolen, a belief that remains widespread among parts of the electorate.
Loudermilk has argued publicly that the Capitol is no safer today than it was in 2021 and has pledged continued oversight to prevent a repeat of both the security lapses and what he describes as a politically driven investigation.
The human toll of January 6 continues to weigh heavily. Five people died in connection with the attack and its immediate aftermath, including Babbitt. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died the following day after confronting the mob. In the months that followed, several other law enforcement officers who responded to the attack died by suicide, underscoring the lasting psychological impact.
The Justice Department later charged Trump with multiple counts related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including conspiracy to defraud voters. Former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers that, in his view, the Capitol riot would not have occurred without Trump’s actions and rhetoric. However, the case was dropped after Trump was reelected, in line with long standing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
Trump was impeached by the House for inciting an insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice. The Senate ultimately acquitted him, with several Republican senators saying criminal courts, not Congress, were the appropriate venue for accountability. More recently, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from prosecution for official acts, a decision that has further complicated debates about responsibility and justice.