The East Front of the U.S. Capitol on a snowy Jan. 6, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
While North Carolina Democrats mourned the anniversary of the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Republicans refrained from commenting on the riots, instead congratulating President-elect Donald Trump on the confirmation of his victory.
The electoral count proceeded without incident or objection Monday, a far cry from the large-scale protests that marked the date four years ago and were followed by a violent incursion into the Capitol Building that sent lawmakers fleeing for their safety.
But North Carolina’s Democratic lawmakers sought to ensure that the attacks four years ago did not go forgotten — particularly as the man who spread the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen returns to office promising to pardon those who stormed the Capitol in his name.
“Four years ago today, a violent mob — incited by then President Trump — attacked the U.S. Capitol and attempted to prevent the peaceful transfer of power,” said Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.). “Today is a painful reminder of just how fragile our democracy is and how close we came to losing it.”
“Now more than ever, we must remain committed to defending our democracy and ensuring this never happens again,” Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.) wrote in a post on X.
Ross praised the work of the bipartisan January 6th Committee and condemned those “seeking to rewrite history.” Trump, notably, has repeatedly called the insurrection “a day of love.” President Joe Biden awarded former Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and former Rep. Liz Cheney — the former chairs of the Jan. 6 committee — with the Presidential Citizens Medal last week in honor of their work.
In a statement on behalf of the Democratic National Committee, chair Jaime Harrison called on all members of higher office to “make clear this kind of violent attack on our democracy can never happen again.”
“Democrats remain steadfast in our support of the democratic values our country was founded on and will always work to ensure that our democratic processes and institutions continue to function in service of the American people, whether we win or lose,” Harrison wrote.
No North Carolina Republicans in Congress acknowledged the anniversary of the insurrection, which saw five killed and 140 police officers injured, preferring instead to cheer the certification of the incoming president’s election.
“Congress just CERTIFIED Donald J. Trump as the 47th President!” wrote Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) on X. “Welcome back, Mr. President!”
Hudson, now the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was one of the 147 Republicans in the House of Representatives who objected to the certification of the 2020 election, citing repeatedly debunked claims of election fraud. All other current Republican representatives from North Carolina either objected to the certification or were not yet in Congress.
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays the Congress from the swift completion of certifying the election of Donald J. Trump as our nation’s 47th president,” posted Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), who joined Congress in 2023, alongside a selfie in front of a snowbound Capitol.
This year’s election certification, at just 30 minutes, was the swiftest since 2013, according to C-SPAN. The certification of the 2020 election, put on hold as rioters were cleared from the Capitol Building by police, took nearly 15 hours.
“CONGRESS CERTIFIES OUR GREAT ELECTION VICTORY TODAY,” Trump posted on Truth Social Monday afternoon, just before posting a photo of the Capitol awash in Trump supporters four years ago. “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY. MAGA!”