Five Years After the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot: A Nation Divided

Thu Jan 08 2026 07:06:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the United States reflects on the fifth anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, renewed tensions and partisan divisions reignite, overshadowing any consensus on the events of that fateful day.

On the fifth anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, no official commemoration marked the chaos that unfolded in 2021. Donald Trump continues to distance himself from the violence while Democrats seek to preserve the memory of the day's events, intensifying existing political divisions. The repercussions of the riot are felt deeply in Congress, with new narratives and investigations emerging amid ongoing debates about security and accountability.

WASHINGTON (RTW News) — Five years ago outside the White House, then-President Donald Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, declaring, and I’ll be there with you as Congress moved to certify Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.

The aftermath was chaos, with the heart of U.S. democracy under siege. As the country notes the fifth anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, no formal memorial events have been organized. The political landscape remains polarized, with both parties failing to agree on a unified narrative regarding the day’s events, which were broadcast worldwide.

Trump, in a speech delivered to House Republicans at the renamed Kennedy Center, shifted responsibility for the riot onto the rioters, claiming he only intended for his supporters to confront Congress peacefully and patriotically. Meanwhile, Democrats convened at the Capitol to reflect on the events, emphasizing the importance of remembrance to combat what Rep. Jamie Raskin termed the GOP’s “Orwellian project of forgetting.”

A memorial gathering led by former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio rekindled memories of the day, with supporters honoring those who lost their lives during the riot, amidst a backdrop of divisions and varied commemorations.

Ongoing Political Divisions

As the anniversary unfolds, the focus is split, with significant international events also capturing attention. The political leadership is characterized by intensified struggles over interpreted memories of the day and the ramifications of the riot. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointed out the hypocrisy in claiming to uphold democracy abroad while undermining it domestically.

A Legislative Split

In a move to re-establish narrative control, the GOP has announced a new committee intended to investigate alternative theories surrounding the events of January 6, while Democrats are recalling witnesses from the original attack for further insight into the crisis. The differing perspectives create a chasm that reflects the broader division within American society.

The Capitol riot's repercussions are palpable, with ongoing discussions about security protocols and narrative control, set against a backdrop of electoral strategies ahead of the 2024 election. As Congress grapples with the legacy of January 6, the nation remains as divided as ever. "forTimestamp": "2023-01-06T00:00:00Z"