> At a Glance
> – No official ceremony marks five years since the Capitol breach
> – Trump meets privately with House GOP at the renamed Kennedy Center
> – Democrats hold a hearing and Capitol-steps vigil
> – Why it matters: The divide over Jan. 6’s meaning shows no sign of closing
Five years after the Capitol riot, Washington again hosts dueling events rather than a shared remembrance, underscoring how the attack’s legacy remains bitterly contested.
Events of the Day
Donald Trump will address House Republicans at the Kennedy Center, now branded with his name, for a policy forum. Democrats reconvene the disbanded Jan. 6 committee to hear from police and lawmakers, then gather on the Capitol steps.
Enrique Tarrio, ex-Proud Boys leader pardoned by Trump, leads a noon march from the White House to the Capitol to honor Ashli Babbitt and others who died. Tarrio served 22 years for seditious conspiracy until his conviction, along with 1,500 others, was wiped away by Trump’s sweeping pardon.
Tarrio urged supporters online to attend:
> “This will be a PATRIOTIC and PEACEFUL march.”
Competing Narratives
Republicans, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk under Speaker Mike Johnson, continue to spotlight security failures rather than the assault itself. Loudermilk calls the Democratic hearing a “partisan exercise” and insists the Capitol “is no more secure today than it was on January 6.”
Key GOP focus points:
- Delayed National Guard response
- Missed pipe-bomb detection
- Partisan bias in investigations
Democrats counter that the riot “does not happen” without Trump’s false election-fraud claims. Former special counsel Jack Smith, who later dropped the federal case against Trump, told lawmakers last month that the former president’s actions drove the violence.
Toll and Aftermath
Five people died in connection with the riot, including Babbitt, shot by police, and Officer Brian Sicknick, who collapsed after battling rioters. Several officers later died by suicide.
Timeline:
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Jan. 6, 2021 | Capitol breached |
| House vote | Trump impeached for incitement |
| Senate trial | Acquittal, citing courts’ role |
| 2024 election | Trump returns to White House |
The Justice Department indicted Trump on four conspiracy counts tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Prosecution ended after the Supreme Court ruled ex-presidents have broad immunity and Trump won reelection.
Key Takeaways
- No bipartisan memorial exists; a plaque honoring defending officers remains uninstalled
- Republicans emphasize security lapses, Democrats stress accountability
- Trump, impeached but acquitted, now wields power again
- Over 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants saw charges dropped under Trump’s pardon
The anniversary’s split-screen nature mirrors the day itself: Congress met to certify Biden’s win while rioters stormed the building, leaving the nation still grappling with how to remember Jan. 6.
