Some of the rioters were whipped into such a frenzy that they beat a police officer with a fire extinguisher. The officer, 42-year-old Brian Sicknick, later died from brain injuries sustained during the attack. Other rioters shoved officers, called them “traitors,” and promised a second civil war.
The events that unfolded made the US an object of ridicule to its adversaries, and longtime allies watched in horror and dismay as the president sat back while his supporters desecrated a centuries-old symbol of democracy.
When Congress finally reconvened after officers secured the building, multiple Republican lawmakers who had initially backed Trump’s efforts to overturn the election withdrew their support, citing the “abhorrent” attack on the Capitol.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell forcefully condemned the “unhinged” rioters and reiterated his commitment to formalizing Biden’s win, saying, “This failed insurrection only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic.”
The attempted coup also catalyzed a string of high-profile departures from the Trump administration. Three Cabinet secretaries resigned, as did the former White House press secretary, deputy press secretary, deputy national security advisor, the former White House chief of staff, and others in the Commerce Department and National Security Council.