On January 6th, 2021, the GOP party embarked on an unprecedented effort to rewrite the nation’s history when it passed a motion to erase the events of the past day. Days prior, of course, on January 6th, supporters of then-President Donald Trump had gathered in Washington D.C. amidst a contentious electoral process, ultimately culminating in a siege of the U.S. Capitol. In the aftermath of the attack, the GOP chose to overlook the violence of the event and instead affirm its support for former President Trump.
By passing a resolution that “rejected the unwarranted and inflammatory accusations that led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol”, the GOP put its proverbial stamp of approval on the notion that no wrong-doing occurred, thus paving the way for a potential Trump comeback. Following the motion, numerous conspiracy theories about the event began to arise which were further spread by the former president himself.
In the weeks that followed, Trump began to actively shape the narrative surrounding the event, claiming that the attack was conducted by “‘antifa’-like” people in an attempt to make him look bad before the election. Though the FBI has discounted such theories, the former president continues to publicly repeat them, effectively creating a specter that the event was orchestrated to harm him and his supporters.
By overturning the findings of the U.S. Capitol attack investigation, the GOP has effectively cleared the way for Donald Trump’s potential return into the public sphere. The party is now faced with a choice: reject the former president’s falsehoods and unequivocally condemn the events of January 6th, or declare support for Trump in an effort to placate his loyal base. The outcome of this decision could have lasting implications for the GOP’s future.
Revealed: How the GOP Aided Trump’s Comeback After Jan. 6
