Five years ago, January 6th became a date etched into our history books, and not for a good reason. As we look back at what went down at the U.S. Capitol, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is still speaking truth to power, pointing fingers at what she calls deliberate inaction from Donald Trump during that violent insurrection.
On the anniversary itself, Pelosi tackled the ongoing claims from Donald Trump head-on. She pushed back hard against his constant narrative that leaders didn’t ask for the National Guard. For Pelosi, that story isn’t just untrue—it’s downright offensive.
She didn’t mince words, stating directly: “Today, that president who incited that insurrection, continues to lie about what happened that day…I saw on TV that he was claiming that we did not ask for the National Guard…For over three hours we begged him to send the National Guard! He never did it. He took joy in not doing. He was savoring it…What he’s saying today is an insult to the American people.”
Even now, five years later, the political rift around January 6th is still wide open. Trump keeps trying to downplay the violence, but his critics aren’t letting up, insisting that accountability is far from settled. Pelosi, for one, is making sure everyone knows she holds Trump responsible for the chaos and tragedy that day.
Remembering What Happened:
So, what actually went down? On January 6, 2021, Congress was supposed to be doing its usual thing: certifying the 2020 election results. This is usually a super dull, procedural affair, over and done in a few hours. But not this time. Oh no, not this time.
Earlier that day, Donald Trump held a rally close to the White House. He was spewing false claims about a ‘stolen election’ and pretty much told his crowd to march on the Capitol. As the electoral vote count started, thousands of protestors headed straight for the building. What began as a march quickly turned into something far more sinister.
Soon, crowds were busting through police barricades, totally overwhelming Capitol Police. They smashed windows and forced their way right inside the Capitol building. Lawmakers got rushed into safe spots; some were hiding under desks, others evacuated through secret underground tunnels. The whole certification process just stopped for hours. Tragically, five people died connected to that day, including a Capitol Police officer, and over 140 officers were injured defending the building.
Amidst all that pandemonium, calls went out for federal help, specifically the National Guard. Congressional leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, confirmed that those requests weren’t immediately greenlit. The National Guard eventually showed up, but only after the Capitol had been completely overrun and a lot of damage was already done.
By the evening, with the building finally secured, Congress got back to business. They finished certifying the election, officially making Joe Biden the next president. In the months and years since, hundreds of folks have been arrested and charged for their part in the attack, for everything from simple trespassing to assault and even seditious conspiracy.
January 6th is now firmly in the history books as the first time in modern U.S. history that the peaceful transfer of presidential power was violently shattered. Five years on, it’s still one of the most polarizing and impactful days in American politics, with folks still fiercely debating who’s responsible, who should be held accountable, and how we should even remember it all.
