Prior Warnings and Escalation of Rhetoric Leading to Capitol Attack
Extremism researchers, including those at Right Wing Watch, had long foreseen the violent events of January 6, 2021. Their warnings were based on recurring calls for violence and revolution from various right-wing figures before and after the 2020 presidential election. The alarm was raised on multiple occasions about the increasing violent rhetoric among far-right groups.
Kristen Doerer from Right Wing Watch highlighted the escalated threats two weeks before Election Day while reporting on the disrupted plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She noted:
Right Wing Watch has seen an increase of violent rhetoric across different right-wing subgroups—from conspiracy theorists and religious-right activists to white nationalists and anti-government groups. In some instances, extremists call for civil war, the use of force against Black Lives Matter protesters, and for government leaders to be tried for treason and executed.
Examples of such rhetoric included televangelist Jim Baker’s August 2020 warning of a revolution if Trump was not reelected, and Rick Joyner’s September assertion that God has “seeded” the U.S. with Christian veterans to lead militias in a looming civil war.
The Spread of the Big Lie
The situation intensified with former President Donald Trump’s persistent claims that the election was stolen from him. This narrative, often referred to as the Big Lie, was echoed by Trump, his legal team, Republican allies, right-wing media, and Christian nationalist figures, casting President Joe Biden as illegitimate and his supporters as traitors.
Calls to overturn the election results, along with threats of violence, spread across far-right social media and from rally stages near the White House. At a December 12, 2020 rally on the National Mall, right-wing Christian activists, conspiracy theorists, and extremist leaders like Alex Jones and Stewart Rhodes demanded Trump invoke emergency powers and martial law.
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn and attorney Lin Wood also urged Trump to declare martial law. On December 1, Wood stated, “Our country is headed to civil war,” and an Ohio group took out a full-page ad in the Washington Times warning of a “shooting civil war” if a fair vote was not ensured.
Violent Rhetoric Preceding the Capitol Attack
Right Wing Watch reported on the rally held by Trump supporters on January 5, noting chants of “Victory or death!” led by Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander. InfoWars host Owen Shroyer expressed satisfaction that members of Congress were “in fear” and “scurrying around in secret tunnels.”
On the afternoon of January 6, Right Wing Watch noted widespread calls for violence on pro-Trump social media, including a post suggesting that Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Chief Justice John Roberts be “dispatched.” Attorney Lin Wood had also called for Pence’s execution.
Continued Impact of the Big Lie
The anger from Trump’s Big Lie did not dissipate after January 6. The next day, hard-right activist John Guandolo appeared on Christian television, claiming that the insurrectionists showed “restraint” by not executing “traitors.” Guandolo predicted an armed counterrevolution driven by communists.
Republican officials have used this continued resentment to justify new voter suppression laws and to make it easier for state politicians to overrule election officials. Trumpists like Cleta Mitchell and Steve Bannon have encouraged “America First” activists to gain control over election machinery.
Efforts to Undermine Accountability
Most Republican leaders have sought to prevent accountability for Trump and his allies. Right-wing leaders have disparaged the House committee investigating January 6, and some former Trump aides have defied congressional subpoenas.
Jared Holt from the Atlantic Council documented that domestic extremist movements have adapted by becoming more active in mainstream conservative politics, decentralizing operations, and engaging in local activism on emotionally charged issues like vaccine and mask mandates.
Ben Collins and Brandy Zadrozny of NBC profiled Denise Aguilar, a right-wing activist who shifted from celebrating the Capitol breach to mobilizing local opposition to vaccine and mask requirements in schools. This aligns with Steve Bannon’s call for right-wing listeners to “take this back village by village.”
Ongoing Threats to Democracy
Right-wing revisionism has downplayed the insurrection’s violence or blamed it on left-wing agitators. The threats continue from the promotion of Trump’s Big Lie, harassment of election officials, GOP opposition to accountability, and voter suppression laws. These actions highlight the ongoing need for vigilance and resistance to protect democracy.
