Posters, MAGA hats, and graffiti, all bearing alliance and relation to Trump, were left behind by the rioters at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. A sign bearing the phrase, “Off with their heads: Stop the steal.” was found. Nancy Peolosi’s office was heavily vandalized; a note was left on her desk reading, “we will not back down.” Shattered glass lay on the floor next to broken windows. Senators cleaned up broken furniture and watched their workplace, and their country, fall into shambles. Not only were physical items left behind, but the harsh reality of the extremism prevalent in America was.
The Trump-supporting protesters aimed to overturn the 2020 election results, which have been denied by the president since Biden’s clear victory. A week prior to the riot, Donald Trump encouraged people to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” This overwhelming disbelief in fact is a threat to American democracy. More faith must be held in the centuries-old voting system, not in an ex-reality T.V. show host. The election was perfectly fair, and there was no proof of any mishandling of votes. Though, Trump is still desperate to find nonexistent evidence that will fit his “winning” narrative. On a call with Georgia’s secretary of state, the president begs, “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.” This means that all of his previous statements about the election loss are false, even to him. He never had information to back them up. The right to vote is one of the greatest freedoms in this country, and Trump is trying to belittle it.
Instead of prolonging Trump’s presidency, the rioters assisted in his second impeachment. Five have died because of the protest. Ninety-eight Americans have been charged with criminal cases. Careful investigation is being done to ensure that everyone involved faces the consequences; even senators are being questioned for possibly giving people Capitol tours with the intention of preparing them for the attack. The Capitol riot revealed the worst of the country in a sad attempt to save its worst president.