Five years after the Capitol attack, Washington marks the anniversary with dueling events and no shared narrative.
> At a Glance
> – No official ceremony marks the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol siege
> – Trump meets privately with House Republicans while Democrats hold a Capitol-steps vigil
> – Proud Boys ex-leader leads a retracing march after receiving a presidential pardon
> – Why it matters: The split-screen observances highlight America’s unresolved rift over the 2021 assault on U.S. democracy
On Jan. 6, 2021, a presidential rally morphed into a violent breach of the Capitol; today the parties still cannot agree on what happened or how to remember it.
Competing Commemorations
President Donald Trump-who told supporters “I’ll be there with you” before they marched-will huddle with House Republicans at the Kennedy Center for a policy forum, not a memorial.
Across town, Democrats revive the defunct Jan. 6 committee for a hearing with police officers and lawmakers who lived through the attack. Later they will gather on the Capitol steps to honor those who defended the building.
Meanwhile, Enrique Tarrio-former Proud Boys leader and recipient of a sweeping Trump pardon-invites supporters to retrace the rioters’ route from the White House to the Capitol “to honor Ashli Babbitt and others who died.”
> “This will be a PATRIOTIC and PEACEFUL march. If you have any intention of causing trouble we ask that you stay home.”
> – Enrique Tarrio, social media post
Investigations, Old and New
Democrats reconvene the disbanded Jan. 6 committee; Adam Kinzinger is expected to testify, while Liz Cheney will not appear.
Republicans, led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk, launch a fresh probe focused on security failures-slow National Guard response, missed pipe bombs-and call the Democratic session a “partisan exercise.”
| Committee | Focus | Key Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Revived Jan. 6 panel | Police testimony, Trump pressure | Adam Kinzinger |
| New GOP subcommittee | Capitol security lapses | Barry Loudermilk |
Speaker Mike Johnson, who once challenged 2020 results, backs the Republican inquiry and rejects claims Trump incited the crowd.
Aftermath by the Numbers
- 1,500+ defendants saw charges dropped after Trump’s pardon
- Five deaths tied to the siege, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick
- Four federal counts were filed against Trump for election interference; special counsel Jack Smith later abandoned the case
- No official plaque honoring defending officers has been installed
> “These people in the administration want to lecture the world about democracy when they’re undermining the rule of law at home.”
> – House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries
Key Takeaways
- Washington’s fifth Jan. 6 anniversary features parallel, not joint, observances
- Trump and congressional Republicans emphasize policy and security flaws
- Democrats spotlight personal stories of violence and democratic peril
- The absence of a shared historical narrative keeps the Capitol attack politically divisive
The split-screen milestone underscores that, five years on, America has yet to forge a unified account of the day its seat of government was overrun.
