On Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence began to oversee the long-awaited joint session of Congress that would nationally certify the 2020 election results, which saw President-elect Joe Biden defeat outgoing President Donald Trump by 74 electoral votes.
Capitulating to Trump's lies that widespread election fraud orchestrated by Democrats tipped the election to Biden, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the first to back a House GOP objection to the electoral votes, disputing the results from Arizona, which went blue this year for the first time since 1996.
As the House and Senate separately debated the validity of Arizona's electoral votes, Trump supporters—heeding the President's calls to "fight" for him—stormed the U.S. Capitol, forcing Pence and others to evacuate.
Capitol police deployed tear gas and at least one person was shot and killed, but Trump's supporters continued to walk freely through the Senate floor.
According to CNN White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins, it was the first time the Capitol had been breached since 1814, when the British attacked it in the Battle of 1812.
Amid the chaos, an election night tweet from far-right provocateur Tomi Lahren—a proponent of Trump's lies that the election was stolen—resurfaced.
If @realDonaldTrump were to lose (he won't) his supporters will go to work tomorrow just as we do everyday. When Biden loses, his “supporters" will likely loot and riot. Tells you everything you need to know! #Trump2020
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) November 3, 2020
Lahren said that if Trump was to lose the election, his supporters wouldn't "loot and riot," alluding to the conservative characterization of the overwhelmingly peaceful protests against racist police violence last summer.
After her name began trending on Twitter, Lahren called on Trump supporters to remain peaceful in a series of lie-riddled tweets.
If you're in DC today in support of @realDonaldTrump remember you are a representation and reflection of all those patriots who couldn't be there, who couldn't take off work on a Wednesday. Act accordingly. Leave thuggery and violence for liberals. You're better than this.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 6, 2021
And unlike you liberals and Democrats, I will denounce rioting and denounce violence. Y'all passed off your bullsh*t as “justice" for 3 months plus. I'll go ahead and be consistent. I don't support thuggery from any side. I'm sure you've got some agitators mixed in out there, too
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 6, 2021
That didn't stop people from highlighting her initial take on the 2020 election.
This aged just as badly as we knew it would 🥴 https://t.co/LaEcrciV3d
— Nyma Tang (@nymatang) January 6, 2021
OH HOW THE TURNTABLES https://t.co/DG2pZPwa8D
— SPACE YACHT (@spaceyacht) January 6, 2021
AGED LIKE FINE WINE https://t.co/QGuB3Uve8c
— krista.jpg (@kjaws_) January 6, 2021
Didn't age well... https://t.co/0SVcibdGMP
— Protect Trans Kids / BLM ✊🏾 (@MunroeBergdorf) January 6, 2021
this you guys? https://t.co/ItJrgfs1DB pic.twitter.com/BOcLbwIhzc
— ellexa // GABI DAY (@luvyoutosaturn) January 6, 2021
Her attempts to downplay the violence weren't received well either.
Karen wants to speak to the rioters' manager. https://t.co/fDtCLBPXs8
— Carolina A. Miranda (@cmonstah) January 6, 2021
Lmaoooooooooooo she's backtracking! https://t.co/157vBMbFeQ
— Swiss Neutrality (@ashindestad) January 6, 2021
But these are your people, miss Tuna. Keep the same energy, girl. https://t.co/47rReq0BAw
— A N G E L (@angel1cv) January 6, 2021
😂😂😂 i cant wait to see the spin shell try to give 😂😂😂 https://t.co/FWbUyGsDFw
— Lyssi SourPig (@PRISSY_LYSSI) January 6, 2021
The Capitol remains on lockdown.
@diflaversham/Bluesky
@missmajestik/Bluesky
@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
Donald J. Trump/Facebook
r/DonaldTrump666/Reddit
r/DonaldTrump666/Reddit
r/DonaldTrump666/Reddit
r/DonaldTrump666/Reddit
@mbogus1107/X
@Radish656/X
@smalls2672/X
@GrimmUnleashed/X