A New, Normal January 6?
The Peaceful Transition of Power
I understood when America decided to try something “new” in 2015-2016. The country emerged from eight successful years of Democrat Barack Obama’s presidency, and Hillary Clinton was a flawed candidate. I expected and even predicted the chaos and calamity of the succeeding Trump presidency.
In late 2015, before Trump’s election, I wrote a fictional account of what I expected if he became president. My novel Betrayal of Justice presented a frightening account of an America led by a corrupt and criminal president who flaunted the Constitution. Much of what I wrote came true during Trump’s years as president.
President Trump’s criminal and unethical conduct in and out of office reached a boiling point after our citizens wisely voted him out of office in 2020. On January 6, 2021, Trump thumbed his nose at the public and the Constitution. He became the first president in history to refuse to participate in the peaceful transfer of power. Worse, he encouraged and inspired an insurrection, a disgraceful attack on the United States Capitol, his vice president, and the institutions of government.
The goal of the mob on that fateful day was to overturn the 2020 election results—not all the results, just the presidential results. Apparently, at least in Trump’s mind, America correctly got the rest of it. Go figure. The rioters breached security, vandalized offices, and disrupted the joint session of Congress, convened to certify the Electoral College votes. The chaos resulted in multiple deaths, injuries to law enforcement officers, and significant property damage. The country widely condemned Trump and his riotous supporters—even Trump said the day’s “heinous attack” had “defiled” the U.S. Capitol. He vowed that “those who broke the law … will pay”. Multiple participants were tried, convicted, and sentenced to prison for their criminal behavior. But Cheerleader-in-chief Trump escaped serious consequences.
Fast-forward four years—America has made one of the biggest mistakes of its still young democratic existence and inexplicably restored the unethical, criminal Trump to his former office. Trump will be president once again despite a historic congressional investigation, multiple criminal indictments and convictions, two successful impeachments, and several civil damages awards.
The Democrats tried hard to prevent the 2024 outcome. They replaced a sitting president with a vibrant, young female candidate of color and vowed to make a fresh start from the chaos of Trump. “We won’t go back” became their rallying cry. But they failed. Trump narrowly won the popular vote and comfortably won the electoral college vote. Indeed, the Democrats would rally the troops and question the outcome. Wrong.
Over the past four years and especially during the 2024 presidential campaign, the rhetoric shifted. Trump, his supporters, and other disgruntled voters described the January 6th assault on democracy as “a day of love” with “nothing done wrong at all.” Trump, somehow (you’ve got to hand it to this character), successfully transformed and grabbed control of the historical narrative. Along with it, Trump, once again, became a suitable choice for president.
January 6, 2025, stands in stark contrast with January 6, 2021. Sometime in the future, American history books will remember the 2021 date for the unprecedented attack on the U.S. Capitol. 2025, thanks to the Democrats, marks a return to the peaceful transfer of power. Four short years after the insurrection, Congress convened to certify the 2024 election results. Despite heightened security and a snowstorm, Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s 2024 presidential opponent, presided over the certification and committed to a peaceful power transfer. Like Mike Pence before her, she did her job as mandated by the Constitution.
Trump has promised to get even with his political opponents. He plans to pardon many of the individuals who were convicted in connection with the 2021 insurrection. He has made some dubious Cabinet nominations. America remains deeply divided. Trump’s behavior deepens those divisions. The news media broadcast the two January 6 events, the shocking 2021 riot, and the normal certification process during a heavy snowfall in 2025. Which do you prefer?
President Biden once told America, “You can’t love your country only when you win.” While January 6, 2025, is being hailed as a reaffirmation of our democracy and adherence to the rule of law, I would suggest that the political resurgence of those who played a leadership role in the lawlessness of that day sets a dangerous precedent for our politics and our country going forward. Half the country has collective amnesia. The other half does not want to be governed by an unethical criminal.
This writer has little confidence in a second Trump presidency. The two January 6ths underscore the challenge of achieving political unity under his leadership and reaching a shared understanding of democratic principles. I pray I’m wrong but fear I’m right. In four years, someone will say, “I told you so.” I hope it is not me. God bless America.