The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Biden says Trump’ s ‘big lie’ caused insurrection
President Joe Biden has forcefully condemned Donald Trump’s election “big lie” that sparked the deadly breach of the US Capitol by his supporters and continues to motivate deep national division.
He marked the anniversary of the insurrection by declaring he will stand and fight for “the soul of America”.
Mr Biden’s criticism was blistering of the “defeated president”, who he blamed for the attack that has fundamentally changed Congress and raised global concerns about the future of American democracy.
“For the first time in our history, a president not just lost an election, he tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol,” Mr Biden said.
“But they failed.”
His voice booming at times, filling the ornate hall with statues of the country’s leaders and heroes, he called on Americans to see January 6 for what it was.
“Democracy was attacked,” Mr Biden said at the Capitol.
“We the people endure. We the people prevailed.”
The president and congressional Democrats started the day in Statuary Hall, one of several spots where rioters swarmed a year ago and interrupted the electoral count.
He drew a contrast between the truth of what happened and the false narratives that have sprung up about the Capitol assault, including the continued refusal by many Republicans to affirm that Mr Biden won the 2020 election.
“You and I and the whole world saw with our own eyes,” Mr Biden said.
He asked those listening to close their eyes and recall what they saw that day, as he described the harrowing, violent scene, the mob attacking police, threatening the House speaker, erecting gallows threatening to hang the vice president – all while Mr Trump sat at the White House watching it on TV.
“Here is the God’s truth about January 6 2021,” Mr Biden said.
“They were looking to subvert the constitution.
“We must be absolutely clear about what is true and what is a lie. Here’s the truth,” he said.
“The former president of the United States of America has spread a web of lies about the 2020 election.
“We are in a battle for the soul of America.”