Attack on the US Congress; the last days of Trump's chaos

Who is responsible for the brutal attack on the US Capitol? Did the security police do their job properly? Commentary by Ines Paul, DW's Washington bureau chief.

Ines Pohl, head of Deutsche Welle's Washington bureau, has interpreted the events of Wednesday, January 6th (January 17th) in the US capital.

He stated that "Donald Trump's attack on the democratic system has reached its peak," emphasizing that the responsibility for the "thugs' attack" on the Capitol (the Congress building) lies with Donald Trump, but the president's aides also played an important role in creating the conditions for this incident.

According to Paul, by provoking white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, and violent groups and drawing them to Washington, Trump has shown that the US system of government is also fragile. In this regard, the head of Deutsche Welle's bureau in the US capital points to people who in recent years have assessed Trump's positions as "harmless exaggerated statements and online noise" and apparently did not care about their destructive depth.

In this regard, he cites the example of 12 senators and more than a hundred members of the House of Representatives who challenged the results of the November presidential election.

The destruction of the Republican Party

Paul clarifies that Republicans have watched as the president, with the characteristics of an autocrat, controls their party and has allowed him to form a government that works only for him and not for the nation.

The commentary continues: "Just days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, Trump appears intent on destroying his own party and, in doing so, destroying the foundations of democracy."

Paul notes that Donald Trump does not hesitate to attack even some of his most loyal allies, such as Mike Pence, to achieve his goals.

He writes: "Trump has made it clear that in his opinion a good Republican is someone who defends his positions to the end."

Apparently, Trump doesn't even care about "the republic he wants" and would rather the country fall apart if he can't be its leader.

Police double standards

Ince Paul believes that the Capitol Police were ineffective because the rioters were able to easily enter the building, break windows, and even briefly occupy the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

He writes: “This comes as Black Lives Matter protesters who marched in Washington earlier this year were met with tear gas, batons, and an angry president who called for the arrest of peaceful citizens exercising their fundamental rights.”

Paul, while accusing the police of double standards, says: "If the protesters are white and support Trump, they are considered patriots, otherwise they are dangerous anarchists who should be fought with tear gas and thrown in jail."

Ines Paul concluded her commentary by emphasizing: "We are witnessing the final act of the president, who is inciting his supporters to violence."

It is to be hoped that the assessment of the head of the Deutsche Welle bureau in Washington will prove to be correct and that Donald Trump will not lead his country into a new war as a last resort to stay in the White House.

Source: DW