Scenes at the DC Capitol mean Biden’s inauguration could look very different from Trump’s

By no small margin, the best thing about a new year is the notion of a fresh start – the mistakes and mishaps of yesteryear are gone, and everyone has a clean slate.

Unfortunately, this sentiment has not extended to the US election, the results of which are still seen by some – including yesterday’s rioters at the Capitol in Washington DC and across the country at other state houses – as up for debate. 

In 2016, taking in the events of a truly surprising night – at least for those of us who tracked presidential polls and, to our detriment, hadn’t accounted for such a swing in Donald Trump’s favour – a colleague remarked that it was one of the most dramatic elections they had reported on.

At the time, I agreed. The wild election cycle had included allegations of sexual assault against one candidate and improper use of a private email server against another. Social media was used as a campaign platform like never before, while in-person crowds called for Hillary Clinton to be locked up.

Just 11 days before the polls opened, then-FBI director James Comey announced he was reopening the investigation into Clinton’s emails, while audio of Trump making lewd comments about grabbing women had resurfaced a month ahead of the election. This, coupled with Trump’s outrageous comments at his rallies – which were shocking at the time, but have since become the norm – made for an unusual election.

That was until 2020. On this occasion, neither foresight or political punditry was needed to see that Trump’s strategy for an election defeat involved claiming voter fraud. And claim it he did – the president refused to concede the election, tweeted relentlessly about stopping “the steal”, while his team mounted numerous unsuccessful legal challenges to attempt to prevent Joe Biden from assuming his – legitimately won – place in the White House. 

On Wednesday, he riled up supporters yet again, referring to Biden as an “illegitimate president” and leading MAGA hat-wearing protesters on a march through the city. 

Hundreds of his supporters became rioters, bursting through security fences and attacking police officers in a shocking display that demonstrated not only a disregard for the democratic process, but a disdain for peace. Some stormed the Capitol, prompting members of Congress to be told to shelter in place and security attempted to evacuate them. The vice president, Mike Pence, was taken to a secure location; a DC curfew was brought in; gunshots rang out. 

Compared to this, the 2016 election seems like a picnic.

With the Georgia runoffs called for the Democrats, meaning a shift in power in the Senate, and the electoral college certifying the results of the 2020 polls, this election cycle is due to close – and not soon enough. But after the appalling scenes of violence yesterday, it’s clear Inauguration Day may have to look very different to how it usually does when 20th January rolls around.

Yours,

Harriet Sinclair

West Coast US news editor