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WASHINGTON, D.C. — As snowplows cleared the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, the scene looked much different from the same day four years ago, when a mob of Trump supporters rioted inside the U.S. Capitol in protest of his defeat in the 2020 election.
Democrats such as Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, want to ensure no one forgets what happened in 2021.
“Four years ago today, thugs and criminals attempted to weaponize the certification process to overturn the results of a free and fair election. As the Capitol was desecrated, more than 100 Capitol Police officers were injured, some of whom eventually lost their lives. It was a dark day in our nation’s history, and it is incumbent upon myself and my colleagues in Congress to ensure that never happens again,” Rep. Emilia Sykes wrote in a statement.
Congressional Republicans on Monday largely overlooked the violence and chaos of four years ago, pointing out a different contrast in the party’s celebratory mood this year.
“It’s a stark contrast in terms of—I believe we still have the trifecta, as we did with President Trump back in 2017—we feel reinvigorated,” said Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio. “We have an agenda. President Trump knows exactly what he’s doing. He has been here before.”
“I think the whole attitude is completely different. I think it’s a celebratory attitude going on the Hill today, and we’re going to go with that, and we’re going to take it all the way to Jan. 20,” said Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio.
Following the certification, Ohio lawmakers of both parties congratulated Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, who will become Trump’s Vice President.
Republicans said they were not concerned that Trump, the man who tried to overturn the election four years ago, is heading back to the White House. Several mentioned Trump’s victory in both the Electoral College and popular vote as a sign that Americans were ready to move on from the Jan. 6 riots.
“I think Trump is going to be the biggest uniter since Abraham Lincoln,” Rulli said. “I don’t think there’s zero concerns with that. You saw when you win a popular vote, that’s the vote of the people. So I think we’re good to go.”
“The American people have spoken, and the American people have spoken in a very big way, giving President-elect Donald Trump the electoral win and also the popular vote win, which hasn’t been done by a Republican in a very long time,” Miller said. “So I believe the American people have litigated that already.”
Democrats said they were already looking past the certification of the election to working with Trump and Vance.
“I hope that President Trump brings the big middle together because it exists, and we should marginalize the extremes in both parties. And I really do think he has a chance to do that,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.
Two candidates on the presidential ballot were present at the certification. JD Vance attended the joint session of Congress as a senator, since he still has not officially resigned. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the event, certifying her own loss.
