You’d be forgiven if you forgot that it’s still January.
For everyone hoping that 2021 would bring some sort of respite and renewal, much of the new year has simply felt like a continuation of the tough slog of 2020.
The whiplash in Washington has been intense. Each week this month ― each Wednesday, specifically ― has witnessed historic moments. Together, it’s hard to believe they’ve all been crammed in just 20 days.
Advertisement
And they’ve all centered on the U.S. Capitol, which has been battered and broken by a right-wing mob, the site of the historic second impeachment of a president and, finally, the inauguration of a new president promising unity for the nation.
A look at the three Wednesdays in January:
Jan. 6: The Riot
Thousands of Donald Trump supporters came to Washington to stand behind the president, convinced the November election was stolen away from him and given to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump urged his backers to march to the Capitol and stop Congress from certifying Biden as the winner, telling them to show strength and fight for the cause.
They listened and followed his orders. The resulting riot and siege of the Capitol left five people, including a police officer, dead. Some in the mob wanted to “hang Mike Pence,” upset that the vice president wasn’t doing more to support Trump in his claims of election fraud. Lawmakers and their staff feared for their lives, fleeing or getting locked down in secure areas.
Just a week later, the House of Representatives voted to impeach the president, charging him with “incitement of insurrection.” Ten Republicans joined with Democrats in voting for impeachment.
Trump is the first president in history to be impeached twice, and it was the most bipartisan impeachment vote ever.
Advertisement
Jan. 20: The Inauguration
The Capitol could not have looked more different from Jan. 6. Joe Biden stood outside the Capitol and delivered his presidential inauguration address, issuing a call for unity.
“So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power, as we have for more than two centuries,” he said. “We look ahead in our uniquely American way ― restless, bold, optimistic ― and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.”
Advertisement
“For without unity,” he added, “there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.”
Still, the inauguration wasn’t completely normal. Washington was heavily fortressed downtown, prepared for a repeat of Jan. 6. The violence, thankfully, didn’t materialize. The ceremony was also far emptier and more somber than usual, reflecting the toll of the coronavirus pandemic that still rages.
Trump refused to participate in the tradition of attending his successor’s inaugural ceremony. He left Washington on Wednesday morning.
Advertisement
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.