At a Glance
- Five years after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, no joint memorial is planned
- Trump meets privately with House Republicans while Democrats hold a hearing
- Enrique Tarrio-convicted then pardoned-leads a midday march retracing rioters’ path
- Why it matters: The divide over how to remember the attack mirrors the nation’s unresolved political rift
Five years on, the U.S. still can’t agree on what Jan. 6, 2021, meant. There’s no shared ceremony, no official plaque for fallen officers, and no joint statement-only parallel events that underscore how far apart the parties remain.
Competing Commemorations
Trump will huddle with House Republicans at the newly renamed Kennedy Center for a policy forum. Across town, Democrats reconvene the defunct Jan. 6 committee to hear from police, lawmakers, and witnesses.
Later, Democrats will gather on the Capitol steps to mark the day, while Enrique Tarrio-once sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy-leads supporters from the White House to the Capitol to honor Ashli Babbitt and others who died.
Tarrio posted on X:
> “This will be a PATRIOTIC and PEACEFUL march. If you have any intention of causing trouble we ask that you stay home.”
His conviction was among 1,500 dropped after Trump issued a sweeping pardon last year.
Investigations Rebooted
House Democratic leadership is reviving the Jan. 6 committee; former Rep. Adam Kinzinger is set to testify, while Liz Cheney is not expected.
Republicans, meanwhile, have launched a new probe. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, tapped by Speaker Mike Johnson, calls Tuesday’s session a “partisan exercise” and focuses on security failures:
- Delayed National Guard response
- Missed pipe bombs outside party HQ
- Canine units that failed to detect explosives
Loudermilk stated:
> “The Capitol Complex is no more secure today than it was on January 6.”
Legal Fallout
The Justice Department indicted Trump on four counts tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Jack Smith told lawmakers:
> “The riot at the Capitol does not happen without Trump.”
The case was abandoned once Trump returned to office, following policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
Key Takeaways
- No bipartisan memorial exists five years after the Capitol breach
- Trump and congressional Republicans meet privately; Democrats hold public hearing
- Tarrio’s march and Democrats’ vigil highlight clashing narratives
- Security upgrades remain contested, with Republicans citing ongoing vulnerabilities
The split-screen anniversary shows a nation still arguing over the same day, with no consensus in sight.
