On the third anniversary of the deadly Capitol riot, Donald Trump is campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination in Iowa, specifically in the towns of Newton and Clinton, ahead of the crucial caucuses on January 15. Despite the chaos that characterized the end of his one-term presidency, which culminated in an unprecedented second impeachment, Trump remains popular among GOP voters, viewing himself as poised to be the first former president to reclaim the White House since Grover Cleveland in 1893.

His supporters appear undeterred by the four criminal indictments he faces, perceiving them as part of a broader, invisible conspiracy led by Democrats. Many remain skeptical of alternative Republican candidates seeking to challenge President Joe Biden. As Trump advances toward the nomination, he aims to redefine the narrative surrounding his presidency and counter claims made in Colorado and Maine about his ineligibility due to insurrectionist actions.

It is crucial to revisit the events of January 6, 2021, which marked one of the most significant assaults on American democracy, comparable to the Capitol being set ablaze by British forces in 1814. Recent polling indicates that a quarter of Americans believe the riot was a scheme orchestrated by the FBI. The violent clash at the Capitol resulted in five fatalities, following months of Trump falsely asserting that his defeat by Biden was illegitimate and the result of widespread voter fraud.

After his attorney Rudy Giuliani’s unsuccessful legal maneuvers, which have become notorious for their absurdity, Trump was recorded pressuring Georgia’s secretary of state to “find” the votes needed to overturn Biden’s victory. Following this, he publicly pressured Vice President Mike Pence to block the certification of election results during Congress’s joint session. When it became clear Pence would not comply, Trump incited his supporters to “fight like hell,” leading to the Capitol’s storming, clashes with law enforcement, and lawmakers fleeing for safety.