On January 6, 2021, as Congress was set to confirm that President-elect Joe Biden had officially won the election, a chaotic scene unfolded when supporters of Donald Trump, previously protesting in Washington D.C., stormed the Capitol building. Trump, only hours before, had spoken on the subject of the election, falsely claiming victory and encouraging rebellion. By definition, sedition is the act of inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state. It is plain to see that what Trump said during Wednesday’s rally, as well as his previous statements about the election, prove he is, without a doubt, guilty of sedition. 

Trump invited his supporters to come to Washington on January 6 for a “big protest” based on the false assumption that the election was stolen from him. During his speech to some 5,000 supporters, he told them that he, “won’t stand for a landslide election victory to be stolen.” 

Not only did Trump refuse to acknowledge the truth that he had not won the election, but he decided that he needed his supporters to go a step further and gave them some encouraging words. 

“After this, we’re going to walk down [to the Capitol], and I’ll be there with you,” Trump said. 

After promising he would be there with his supporters, he failed to show up, leaving many people at the Capitol to do what they wished with only the words Trump had uttered. Though he wasn’t there physically, it was clear that his words were the source behind the insurrectionist’s actions. I believe that Trump’s words ignited the fire and led to the insurgence. 

When Trump’s supporters did show up at the Capitol on Wednesday, Trump fueled their fury further, telling them, “We will never give up. We will never concede. It will never happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore.” 

Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol as he told them, “We are going to have to fight much harder.” 

Hours after the riot began, he finally made a statement saying, “You have to go home now.” He added, “We love you. You’re very special.”

https://youtu.be/2AeI6Mv0ALg

These placating words from Donald Trump show that he does not seem to take his role as president seriously. 

It is clear that Trump’s supporters have listened to his absurd instructions before, as he had previously joked about the possibility of citizens injecting themselves with bleach and other disinfectants in order to get rid of coronavirus. Some people took his words literally, as there was a spike in poison control calls after his statements.

By telling his supporters to come to the Capitol, Trump surely knew that there would be a reaction from his rallying call. 

A president should want what is best for the country, and Trump brings shame and dishonor upon those who held the position before him. 

Former President Barack Obama attributed violence in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to President Trump, who has refused to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, according to Fox News. 

Our very own president is inciting an assault on our government. Not only was Donald Trump guilty of sedition, but some of his supporters are now guilty of domestic terrorism. Trump is resorting to illegal tactics in order to achieve his goals and destroy the rule of law. There is no way around it; this is blatant sedition and it cannot go unpunished.