Former George W. Bush Strategist Causes a Stir by Calling Capitol Riots 'Worse Than 9/11'

The Capitol Riots of January 6—in which pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol to undo the results of an American election—will forever live in infamy.

Motivated by former President Donald Trump's lies about the validity of the 2020 election, rioters shattered windows, smeared excrement across the walls, ransacked offices, and called for the execution of any lawmaker they saw as disloyal to Trump.

It was the culmination of four years filled with pettiness, disinformation, and indoctrination that prompted the first siege of the Capitol by its own citizens in United States history.

Months after the attack, Congress attempted to pass a bill establishing a bipartisan commission investigating the riots, similar to what was done after the devastating September 11 attacks. Sadly, this legislation failed to pass, thanks to a filibuster imposed by Republicans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California has since opted to establish a select committee in the House.

But it's Congress' inaction that—according to a strategist for former President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection effort—made the Capitol Riots even "worse than 9/11."

Watch below.

In an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid, Matthew Dowd said he was reflecting on Abraham Lincoln's warning that America would be destroyed from the inside.

He said:

"Because there's been no accountability, it's given permission to do more of this. ... [Lincoln's warning] is what I fear about right now. ... What would happen if after 9/11 we had done nothing? ...To me, though there was less loss of life on January 6th, January 6th was worse than 9/11 because it's continued to rip our country apart and give permission for people to pursue autocratic means. And so I think we're at a much worse place than we've been."

Some agreed with Dowd.

Others were disgusted by the claim.

The opinion certainly proved divisive.