Donald Trump Day?

Today, January 6, is The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is probably not what most Americans are thinking of this day.

Four years ago, President Donald Trump encouraged a mob of his supporters to march on the Capitol to disrupt the official declaration that Joe Biden won the recent presidential election, an action that he hoped would lead to unprecedented electoral vote changes by state legislatures and his own re-election.

Congress will today declare that Trump was the winner of the 2024 election, thereby becoming the official president-elect. Washington, D.C., has a much-enhanced police presence today in light of the scheduled congressional activity. It is likely unnecessary because defeated Democrats, unlike the Republicans of 2021, are inclined to accept a legitimately chosen leader, however misguided the American electorate in making that choice.

I have written a couple of posts about what we should call the insurrection of January 6, 2021. In the media, it has simply come to be known as “January 6.” My most recently suggested designation is “Epiphany Insurrection.” On January 11, 2021, and September 16, 2001, I wrote

The ragtag army that marched on the Capitol had no thoughts of the Christian celebration, but the sack of the Capitol was an epiphany of sorts—it manifested, for all to see, the logical consequences of the error of Trumpism. That epiphany has been powerful enough to remove the blinders from the eyes even of some Republicans who have hitherto been unshakable Trump sycophants.

Alas, that epiphany among Republicans was of short duration, and it is difficult to find any Republican who is willing publicly to criticize the mob activities incited by losing presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Contemplating the irony of today’s congressional duties, I was reminded of the Gunpower Plot, which, on November 5, 1605, sought to blow up the House of Lords. The plot was thwarted, and November 5 became celebrated as a day of deliverance from the Catholic conspirators who hatched the plot. Although he was not the leader of the plot, Englishman and Catholic convert Guy Fawkes became the person most associated with it and, among others, was executed for treason. November 5 has been variously designated over time but has long been known as Guy Fawkes Day. It is celebrated with fireworks and bonfires.

Although Donald Trump (and his co-conspirators) did not plan to blow up the Capitol, he certainly intended to undermine the government. Unlike Guy Fawkes in a vaguely analogous situation, Trump has escaped punishment and been rewarded with re-election. If his second administration does not destroy the Republic, it will surely weaken it. Years from now, we will perhaps celebrate January 6 as Donald Trump Day, when we were saved from the Republican insurrection. Or maybe we will celebrate the Day Trump is impeached or replaced by a Democratic president. Or maybe we will celebrate June 14, the birthday of Donald Trump, the leader of the Second American Republic.