Nancy Pelosi honors victims, condemns violence on fifth anniversary of Jan 6 Capitol attack

Former House speaker revisited the events of January 6, 2021, describing the fear, violence, and sacrifices made as a mob stormed the US Capitol
US Rep Nancy Pelosi hugs Gladys and Ken Sicknick, the mother and brother of deceased US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, at a hearing to mark the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol Building. (Getty Images)
US Rep Nancy Pelosi hugs Gladys and Ken Sicknick, the mother and brother of deceased US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, at a hearing to mark the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol Building. (Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: Five years after a mob stormed the US Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of the presidential election, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has recalled the chaos of January 6, 2021 describing how lawmakers and staff were forced to flee for their lives.

Nancy Pelosi, who was inside the Capitol at the time, was evacuated as rioters sought her out. Marking the anniversary, Pelosi shared a lengthy post on X recounting the events of that day and placing blame on President Donald Trump for what she described as his role in allegedly inciting the attack.  

The Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building is visible as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for a news conference with Democratic members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition on climate change on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. Democratic congressmen voiced their ongoing concern for climate change as U.S. President Donald Trump has declined to send any high-level U.S. representatives to the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The Dome of the U.S. Capitol Building is visible as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for a news conference with Democratic members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition on climate change on Capitol Hill on November 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Pelosi recounts what happened at the Capitol on Jan 6

Detailing the events of the attack, Nancy Pelosi stated that members of Congress, staff, and the journalists who were present were hunted and forced to flee out of fear for their lives and the halls of the democratic institution.

“Law enforcement officers were beaten, crushed, and scarred — physically and psychologically — while defending the seat of American democracy,” she wrote.

Pelosi further wrote that some paid the ultimate price. As she paid respect to those who lost their lives, she said that she wanted to honor their bravery and sacrifice for standing up in the face of violence to ensure that “democracy could continue.” 

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Police officers attempt to push back a pro-Trump mob trying to storm th
Police officers attempt to push back a pro-Trump mob trying to storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Pelosi terms Capitol attack an ‘attempted coup’

Later in her post, Nancy Pelosi said that what happened on Jan. 6 was an effort to undermine lawful votes and “subvert the will of the American people.”

“We must speak plainly: January 6 was an attempted coup,” she wrote in her X post. 

The representative added that even in the face of violence, democracy won. However, the danger did not end even after the building was secured.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with Pres
Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

“The same falsehoods that ignited the violence on that day continue to be spread,” she wrote. 

Pelosi urged people not to forget what transpired on January 6, five years ago. She said that simply remembering the past was not important. Pelosi suggested that every civilian had the responsibility to defend democracy. 

WH blames Pelosi for fabricating an insurrection narrative and blaming Trump

The White House launched a new page in light of the five-year anniversary of the Capitol riots, which addressed the blanket pardons Donald Trump had issued after returning to power as the president of America.

President Donald Trump gestures during a meeting of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. A bipartisan Congressional investigation has begun regarding Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's role in ordering U.S. military strikes on small boats in the waters off Venezuela that have killed scores of people, which Hegseth said are intended
President Donald Trump gestures during a meeting of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House on December 02, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The page stated that since the horrific day when the Capitol was attacked, Nancy Pelosi had spent over three years and nearly “$20 million” in taxpayer funds to produce a scripted TV spectacle. 

“To fabricate an insurrection narrative and pin all blame on President Trump,” the webpage read.

It added that there were video and audio recordings, including unaired footage from her own daughter’s documentary, in which the representative had acknowledged responsibility.

The page also featured a short clip of Nancy Pelosi talking about the Capitol attack, in which she said that they should have been accountable for the attack, but were not. 

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