Biden says Americans shouldn't forget the Capitol attack — but it won't happen again this time

President Joe Biden is criticizing what he called a “relentless attempt” to undermine the crowd of Donald Trump supporters who passed the US Capitol in an attempt to block the authorization of the 2020 election – wanting to compare the chaos of that day with what he promised would be order. a revolution that returns Trump to power for a second term.

In an opinion piece published Sunday in the Washington Post, Biden recalled Jan. 6, 2021, writing that “violent rebels attacked the Capitol.”

“We should be proud that our democracy is standing up to this attack,” Biden wrote. “And we should be happy that we won't see such a shameful attack again this year.”

Congress will meet amid the snow in Washington on Monday to confirm Trump's victory in the November election – in a session presided over by his loser, Vice President Kamala Harris. No violence, or procedural dissent, is expected this time around, marking a return to US tradition of presenting a peaceful transfer of presidential power.

That's despite Trump continuing to deny that he'll lose to Biden in 2020, already publicly considering staying over the White House's two-term limit, and promising to pardon more than 1,250 other people who have pleaded guilty or been convicted of crimes. the siege of the Capitol.

In his remarks, Biden said of the certification process, “After what we all saw on Jan. 6, 2021, we know we can't take it for granted again.” He doesn't specifically mention Trump but says “there is an ongoing effort to rewrite – even erase – the history of that day.”

“Telling us that we didn't all see what we saw with our own eyes,” Biden wrote. “We will not allow the truth to be lost.”

He vowed and asserted that “the election will be approved peacefully.” I invited the incoming president to the White House on the morning of Jan. 20, and I will be at his inauguration that afternoon,” even if Trump skips Biden's inauguration in 2021.

“But this day, we will never forget,” said Biden. “We must commit to remembering Jan. 6, 2021, every year. Remembering it as a day when our democracy was tested and won. Remembering that democracy – even in America – is not guaranteed. “

The published piece followed Biden telling reporters at the White House last Sunday that the history of what happened on January 6, 2021, “should not be rewritten” and added, “I don't think it should be forgotten.”

Biden has spent most of the 2024 election campaign warning voters that Trump is a serious threat to the nation's democracy. And this past week, the president presented the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the congressional investigation into Capitol violence.

As he did with his opinion piece, Biden used his comments on Sunday to reporters to emphasize that his administration is overseeing the handover of power peacefully — unlike last time.

“I've tried to make sure that the transition goes smoothly,” Biden said of the incoming Trump administration. “We have to go back to basic, common power transmission.”

Asked if he still considers his successor in the White House a threat to democracy, Biden replied, “I think what he did was a real threat to democracy. I hope we're beyond that now.”