On Jan. 6, the world watched in disbelief as a crowd of Americans, upset with the election results and Electoral College vote certification, stormed the Capitol building. Sadly, both destruction and loss of life occurred. It will forever be a stain on our nation’s history. While President Trump is responsible for his part in inciting such a response, only a small percentage of his supporters are to blame. Ascribing guilt to the more than 74 million people who voted for him in 2020 is wrong.
In November, some people voted for the incumbent simply because his years in office have yielded acceptable results. His tone was more often than not abrasive and immature, but he could boast a list of accomplishments that pleased most in the GOP. Still, others approved of the personality as much as the policies. A portion voted for Trump simply because he is not Joe Biden. But no matter the reasoning, none of those who cast a ballot for Trump and refrained from joining the mob on Jan. 6 are indirectly responsible for the rioting at the Capitol building.
It is true that there have been many just criticisms of Trump over the years. It is also true that the media is far too willing to label everyone connected to Trump, voter or appointee, guilty for any of his words or actions. On CNN, in the aftermath of the insurrection, Don Lemon did just that by stating, “If you voted for Trump, you voted for the person who the Klan supported. You voted for the person who Nazis support. You voted for the person who the alt-right supports. That’s the crowd that you are in — you voted for the person who incited a crowd.”
It’s one thing to condemn the rioters at the Capitol. It’s another thing entirely to blame all Trump supporters for the actions of a few.
Last summer, multiple cities saw rioting, looting, and arson in response to George Floyd’s death. Most people were outraged by the lawlessness, and rightly so. As a nation, we cannot and should not include all those who protested for a cause with the ones who gleefully took part in the destruction. The same should be applied to what happened at the Capitol. It was ugly, inexcusable, violent conduct propelled by a mob with the underlying behavior encouraged by the president through claims about a stolen election. The culpability rests on those individuals alone.
This tendency to heap guilt upon others for crimes such as this because of who they support on Election Day must end. Trump voters were aware of his character on Nov. 3. They approved of his words, actions, and political maneuvering. But they are not to blame for his claims about a stolen election or events that happened more than two months later in Washington, D.C. However, if, in hindsight, any of his most ardent admirers support the insurrection, then they are to blame, too.
In the post-Trump world, there is sure to be blanket hatred, especially from the media, of those who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. Some have even called for members of his administration to be harassed in public and excluded from segments of society. The wrath of those who dislike the man so much that they condemn millions for actual domestic terrorism, in which they took no part, goes beyond all reasoning. Overwhelmingly, people on both sides of the political aisle were heartbroken and outraged by what they saw.
Politicians use the words “unity” quite often to describe what the country needs going forward. This doesn’t mean there won’t be many disagreements about problems and solutions. But it should mean that people share common beliefs against mob violence for political gain. At the same time, it requires an honest assessment of who is at fault, despite personal prejudices.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
