Trump’s Inaction and the Capitol Attack: A Crisis in Leadership
The events of January 6, 2021, were unprecedented in American history. A violent mob, incited by falsehoods about the legitimacy of the presidential election, stormed the United States Capitol. This attack was not only on a building but also on the very foundation of democracy. However, the role President Trump played during this crisis remains a matter of intense debate and, for many, deep concern.
As the mob breached the walls of the Capitol, President Trump was ensconced in the West Wing of the White House. Reports suggested that Trump, surprisingly, was “initially pleased” with the chaos and was unresponsive to calls for his decisive intervention. Such alleged contentment with a direct threat to the democratic process is deeply troubling. That White House Counsel Pat Cipollone felt it necessary to warn administration officials of potential prosecution under the Sedition Act of 1918 speaks volumes about the gravity of Trump’s conduct.
Given the gravity of the situation, one would expect the leader of the free world to spring into immediate action. However, instead of marshaling federal resources or decisively calling for peace, Trump reportedly focused on pressuring Republican senators to further dispute the electoral count. He seemed fixated on overturning an election that had already been verified as free and fair by numerous courts, audits, and state officials.
It wasn’t until 2:47 p.m., when violence was already escalating, that Trump made a lukewarm plea on Twitter for peace. More alarmingly, reports suggest he was initially hesitant to include the plea to “stay peaceful.” This reluctance, set against the backdrop of insurrection, paints a portrait of a president at odds with his role as a protector of democracy.
As influential voices like Donald Trump Jr., Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham reached out to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, urging Trump to publicly condemn the violence, it became abundantly clear that his tepid responses were not only failing to quell the chaos but also deeply frustrating to those within his inner circle. The mounting pressure resulted in another tweet from Trump, still not a direct call for dispersal, but a plea for peace. This plea, however, was juxtaposed with his continued and baseless claims of electoral fraud.
When President-elect Biden addressed the nation, urging Trump to step up and end the riot, the onus was on Trump to respond with clarity and authority. Instead, the video message that emerged from the president’s desk was laced with more claims of a stolen election and a tepid request for the rioters to go home. The fact that platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube deemed it necessary to remove this video is an indication of its inadequacy and potential to further incite unrest.
Congresspersons Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney’s subsequent assessments of Trump’s actions, or lack thereof, during the Capitol attack highlight the perceived severity of his dereliction of duty. Their accusations range from outright negligence to actively trying to halt the transfer of power. Congressman Tom Rice’s comments underscore a sentiment felt by many — that Trump watched the violence unfold, took pleasure in it, and failed in his essential duty to safeguard democracy and the well-being of the nation.
But this dark day also saw other members of Congress in the limelight for their behavior. Representative Lauren Boebert’s decision to tweet sensitive information during the riot raises serious questions about responsibility and security. The spectacle of certain Congress members refusing to wear face masks while sheltering together in a confined space, leading to a potential COVID-19 “superspreader” event, adds another layer of irresponsibility to the day’s events.
January 6 was a day of infamy for the United States. It revealed flaws in security, leadership, and responsibility. However, the focus on President Trump’s actions — or inactions — underscores a larger concern about the role of leadership in times of crisis. Leaders are expected to act decisively, prioritize the safety and well-being of their citizens, and, above all, protect the institutions that underpin the nation’s democracy. On January 6, 2021, when the U.S. Capitol — and democracy itself — was under attack, many believe that President Trump fell critically short of these expectations.
