The Truth of Trump’s Failed Coup and How We Move Forward

In the tumult and emotion of January 6th, 2021 and its aftermath, it has been somewhat challenging to fully understand what we have just witnessed.

But it’s vital for our maturation as a country that we don’t evade the truth, which is already being spun.

We have just borne witness to an organized attempt by the United States President and a network of aligned groups to effectively overthrow the United States government as it prepares to transition power and thereby to keep that President in power.

If this had happened in a developing world country, we would all be clear that this was a coup attempt — botched and not particularly well-organized, perhaps, drawing upon far-right militias rather than the military proper— but a coup attempt nonetheless.

It is likely true that most of those who showed up that day did not think of it as a coup attempt and were at best riled up by lies about the election and partisan fervor.

But here are some facts that should give us some serious reflection:

1. The events were so well-organized in advance online that people had the time to prepare things ranging from pipe bombs to tactical gear to actual t-shirts reading “MAGA Civil War January 6, 2021” One Capitol Police officer said “That was a heavily trained group of militia terrorists that attacked us.”
2. There were clear warnings of the pending threat of violence, which did not result in Capitol Police, the FBI, or the National Guard making sufficient preparations, unlike during Black Lives Matter protests.
3. The “rally” Donald Trump led was designed to foment participants into a state in which “strong” interventions in the vote certification were sanctioned and seen as the patriotic thing to do. Rudy Giuliani referred to “trial by combat” and Trump threatened Vice-President Pence multiple times. It’s valuable to read Seth Abramson’s brilliant 200- tweet chain that breaks out the specific propaganda strategies in detail that convinced people the coming assault was necessary and patriotic and implied that “we” would do so together while Trump left to watch from afar.
4. The National Guard was delayed, by as much as two hours in the case of Maryland, while Pence rather than Trump was the one who ultimately called for their mobilization. Advance requests to have them at the ready were denied.
5. Some Capitol police officers allowed the attackers through and even took selfies with them.
6. Some attackers wore tactical gear and at least one carried plastic handcuffs into the Senate floor, which conveyed intent to take hostages.
7. Many reports and videos document the attackers chanting “Hang Mike Pence” and trying to find him. Trump made both direct and indirect threats to Pence in his speech, further inciting the crowd. There was a gallows assembled nearby so this was not just spontaneous chanting but consciously cultivated imagery for a “traitor” if he failed to block the certification of the vote, as Trump demanded. Pence could have been in real danger if he had been found.
8. Once the attackers were mobilized, Trump and Rudy Giuliani started working the phones to get Senators to challenge a more extensive array of 10 states (more than previously challenged) and draw the proceedings out further, which we have to assume was to give the attackers a chance at occupying the Capitol in order to intimidate and/or incapacitate politicians.
9. House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s office, which was unmarked, was targeted and he commented that something was amiss when he arrived early on Wednesday and a security perimeter had not been established. He said “somebody on the inside of those buildings were complicit in this.”
10. Multiple military allies of the United States say that they believe that Trump attempted a coup and had the support of Federal agencies charged with protecting the Capitol.
11. A report from Senator Ben Sasse (R.) who was in communication with senior White House aides, was that Trump was “delighted” by the reports of the storming of the Capitol.
12. Even in Trump’s video to tell the attackers to go home, he reiterates false claims and conveys to the attackers that “we love you” and that “you are very special,” conveying his approval for their actions that day.

The above evidence represents a tiny fraction of what we know and I expect far more details to confirm the pattern painted above such as the testimony of outgoing leader of the Capitol Police Steven Sund that his repeated requests for reinforcements were denied.

What is also clear is that the majority of Americans are remaining in a less disturbing narrative of “an angry mob that rioted out of control” which makes it seem like an emotional overreaction rather than understanding this was a planned and thinly veiled attempt at a coup. That coup did not use military “regulars” but incited paramilitary far-right operatives to prepare and engage in a way that would mask the intent. This coup attempt likely involved at least some collusion with members of the Capitol Police and possibly the Department of Defense. It aimed to disrupt the vote certification process, intimidate and endanger elected officials including the “traitor” Mike Pence.

One Black Capitol Police officer received a screenshot in advance from Proud Boys that said, “We’re breaching the Capitol today, guys.”

Since January 6th, it’s also clear that many militant forces see the attack on the Capitol as a success and are planning their next “armed march” on all 50 capitols for January 17th, which is evident in this poster.

So how do we react to the above?

How do we avert further escalation of violence and a de-escalation of danger?

The highest path forward now is for Republican leaders who wish to preserve the viability of the party for the future and our democracy for the good of all to take public responsibility for calling for the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from power immediately. A President who cultivates a coup against the lawful transition of power cannot be allowed to stay another day. There is evidence that he has been further emboldened knowing that, even after all he has done, no attempt has been made by Republicans to remove him. My sense is that McConnell would likely have to play a lead role in this process, forcing Pence and the Cabinet to go where they do not wish to go yet. That is why I wrote a letter to Senator McConnell making the argument clear for him to do so. If you have any route to him, please do share that letter.

Second, Republican leaders who recognize the ongoing danger to the United States that we are now in, members like Senators Murkowski, Sasse, Toomey, and Romney, need to work hard both publicly and privately to form a movement to remove Trump from power by backing the use of the 25th Amendment as well as calling for impeachment by Republicans themselves and a demand to McConnell to come back into session. Without leaders from within the Republican Party spearheading this process, it will simply fit into the polarized political frame that Trump has activated around Democrats.

Third, everyone who participated in the attack on the Capitol, including organizers, speakers, and instigators who committed demonstrable crimes or colluded with such crimes from the inside, needs to be arrested and charged, as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence since there are clear signs online of further violence being organized around the 17th and the Biden Inauguration on January 20th. More arrests and clear consequences will deter at least some from participating.

Fourth, we need a critical mass of Americans to fully understand what has happened and to commit to giving no support to any Republican leaders who refuse to take a public stand of condemning and dissociate from any further support of Trump, as well as support bringing him to face justice for his actions. The fact that the Republican National Committee just re-elected Ronna McDaniel, a Trump loyalist, and made their gathering a celebration of Trump is a red flag that the party itself may not be redeemable and may need to go the way of the Whigs in the history books (see my own article on this from before the election on why this is the most likely trajectory). Given the drama of the events of January 6th, I do think an opening is emerging for principled Republican leaders to take responsibility for preventing further harm and for beginning the process of redeeming the party by removing Trump now.

Fifth, we need to ignore the calls to gloss over what has happened in the service of unity and healing. While those are noble goals, healing without accountability is a whitewash and not even possible. Trump and all those who supported and abetted this failed coup by amplifying lies for political gain, need to face accountability. Only the sight of Trump and his co-conspirators being held accountable for their actions against our nation can allow us to move forward. Every citizen needs to know that our laws apply to everyone.

Sixth, as the full gravity of what has transpired sinks in, the American people must never forget the Republican members of Congress who, after a violent assault on our most sacred citadel of democracy, still spread lies about election fraud by challenging the electoral college votes. It’s clear from Republicans such as Senator Ben Sasse that few to none of these officials were doing so because they truly believed the results were fraudulent but because they wanted to curry favor with Trump’s base. Because that base had been fed a steady diet of lies about the election, the only way for them to advance their future political ambitions, so they thought, was to become advocates for the lies themselves.

For that, they deserve a good share of blame for the desecration of our Capitol and the defilement of our democracy. I do not believe they will, in the end, be seen favorably by history. But we cannot allow them to cover up their lack of integrity. We need to be clear-eyed that they were lying for personal gain in a way that harmed our democracy and endangered our citizens.

A fire such as we have just faced can either destroy us or it can strengthen us, as former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger shared so eloquently in his January 10th reflection on what we have just witnessed. As one of the strongest of strong men and a lifelong Republican, Arnold’s vulnerability in sharing about the legacy of the Nazis during his time growing up in Austria is deeply moving. He shares how the siege of our Capitol could be seen as our Kristallnacht in an address that is stirring in its eloquence, truthfulness, and, yes, true patriotism. If you there is one thing about the election that you share with Trump supporters, share that.

Trump supporters are going to have to face a long road as they come to grips with the fact that they were party to the most treasonous attempt to overthrow our democracy that we have ever faced. That recognition will dawn slowly for some and not at all for others.

But the rest of us need to be steadfast in seeing the truth, calling for responsibility, championing justice and accountability, and then, and only then, moving forward in a spirit of unity and healing for all Americans.

Ultimately, we need a healthy left and right wing for the American eagle to fly into our true destiny as a united country. Trump’s legacy of lies and the treasonous uprising he instigated must be faced and cleansed for that healthy future to emerge. It will take time and we should not let Republican leaders off the hook from taking responsibility for the role they must play in it.

It is ultimately all of our responsibility to redouble our commitment to be conscious, committed citizens of our country and to protect it from further harm. It is also all of our responsibility to activate a vision for how we can go through a rebirth on the other side in which our highest commitments and deepest aspirations find their noblest expression for ALL Americans.

America’s destiny, I believe, is to demonstrate the coming together of all the world’s peoples into one thriving culture. E Pluribus Unum. By understanding the true nature of the wound we have sustained, we also illuminate the pathway to the cure, which cannot happen from dissociation or avoidance.