It is an awful, sad, tragic sight – and a reminder that Trump should never be near power again

You can but imagine what the reaction from the president would be had these been Black Lives Matters protestors

Sean O'Grady
Thursday 07 January 2021 04:27 EST
Comments
The Trump revolutionaries are succeeding where those who have sought to tear at the fabric of American democracy previously have failed
The Trump revolutionaries are succeeding where those who have sought to tear at the fabric of American democracy previously have failed (Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

What was that Trump was saying about America turning into a third world state? 

Now he has himself incited the kind of insurrection that’s more associated with the unscheduled violent transfer of power that happens in the more volatile nations around the world.

Inside the Capitol the lawmakers were chewing over the precedent of 1876 and divining the wishes of the authors of the constitution of the United States of America. Outside a bunch of wannabe Bolsheviks were getting ready to storm the Winter Palace. Only some toy town cops stood in their way.

Unlike Petrograd 1917, these revolutionaries are taking selfies with marble likenesses of icons of democracy. The effort to expel them seems lethargic, relaxed, even as Mitch McConnell is hiding under his desk, Nancy Pelosi is locked in the broom cupboard and Mike Pence is dressing up as a chef to be smuggled out (I’m imagining).

Trump, the Lenin of DC? “Stay peaceful” – in effect, stay there and occupy the building and stop the election – “stop the steal” as he calls it. It suits his purposes, this unpopular insurrection and the base love it. The rest of America must now see these fascists for what they are.

In is an awful, sad, tragic sight. The Trump revolutionaries are succeeding where those who have sought to tear at the fabric of American democracy previously have failed. You can but imagine the reaction from Trump if these were Black Lives Matter protesters

As it happens the scenes should remind the American people why it was that they voted to sack Trump and why they should never let him get near power again. So help them God.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in