Biden Reflects on Jan. 6, Warns Democracy Is ‘Never Guaranteed’

President Joe Biden penned an opinion piece for The Washington Post on Sunday, marking the four-year anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

In his essay, Biden emphasized that the insurrection serves as a powerful reminder that democracy in America is fragile and must be safeguarded by every generation.

“We should commit to remembering Jan. 6, 2021, every year. To remember it as a day when our democracy was put to the test and prevailed. To remember that democracy — even in America — is never guaranteed,” Biden wrote.

He underscored the importance of reflecting on the event to honor the freedoms, rights, and opportunities that democracy enables, urging Americans to actively protect these values. “It is our democracy that makes everything possible — our freedoms, our rights, our liberties, our dreams. And it falls to every generation of Americans to defend and protect it.”

Biden’s reflection came as President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his controversial stance on the Capitol riot. Trump has pledged to grant clemency to some of the rioters, with pardons potentially issued in the early hours of his second term.

Trump’s promise highlights the lingering political and societal divisions stemming from the January 6 events, which occurred as Congress was certifying Biden’s 2020 election victory.

In his piece, Biden condemned the actions of the rioters, stating, “Violent insurrectionists attacked the Capitol, threatened the lives of elected officials, and assaulted brave law enforcement officers. We should be proud that our democracy withstood this assault. And we should be glad we will not see such a shameful attack again this year.”

However, Biden warned against complacency, invoking the old adage that nations which forget their past are doomed to repeat it. “We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago,” he stressed.

The president framed the January 6 insurrection as a critical moment in the fight to preserve democratic values, urging Americans to remain vigilant against threats to the nation’s foundational principles.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also weighed in on Sunday, reflecting on the enduring impact of the attack. Speaking with CBS News’s Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation, Pelosi highlighted the ongoing violence inspired by the insurrection.

“It didn’t end that day,” Pelosi said. “As you know, [President-elect Trump] called out to these people to continue their violence, my husband being a victim of all of that, and he still has injuries from that attack.”

Pelosi’s remarks underscored the broader consequences of the January 6 riot, including the personal toll it has taken on individuals and the lingering threat of political violence.

Her husband, Paul Pelosi, was attacked in his San Francisco home in 2022 by a suspect allegedly motivated by Trump’s rhetoric.

Biden’s op-ed, coupled with Pelosi’s comments, reflects a growing consensus among Democratic leaders that the January 6 attack was not just a singular event but a symptom of deeper challenges to America’s democratic fabric.

As the nation marks this somber anniversary, Biden’s message is clear: democracy is not self-sustaining, and it is the responsibility of every American to protect it from future threats.