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The pictures from Washington still have an effect a week later.
The US capital is only slowly recovering from the attack on the Capitol - and is preparing for further riots.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL:
»Washington, DC, is currently like a fortress. After the riots last week, the entire area around the Capitol was cordoned off. So you've put up a big, sturdy fence here. There are 15,000 soldiers who are supposed to guard the capital for the next few days because new riots are expected until Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20th. "
While Congress wanted to confirm Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election last Wednesday, supporters of the defeated Donald Trump broke into the government building - spurred on by the president himself. Five people were killed in the riot, including a police officer.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL:
"So there is really in the whole city here, but also in the whole country, such a real shock moment about what happened there last week."
At the same time the political reappraisal is ongoing.
The Democrats want to remove Trump from office - although his term in office ends in the coming week anyway.
Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Speaker of the House:
“I join the Senate Democratic leader in calling on the Vice President to remove the President by the 25th Amendment. If the Vice President and Cabinet don't act, Congress will initiate the impeachment. "
Many wonder if this is necessary.
In fact, it makes a big difference to Trump's political future.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL:
“Even if Donald Trump were to resign from office on January 20 anyway and you would condemn him afterwards, you could also decide that Trump may never run for the presidency again. And that would of course be a fiasco for Trump, but also a certain satisfaction for the politicians in Washington, because they could be sure that they are rid of him forever, that there is no risk that he could move into the White House again, for example 2024. «
Whether it comes to that, depends on the Republicans in both ways.
The 25th Amendment allows Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to remove Trump if they find him unfit for office.
But Pence apparently rejects that.
In that case, the Democrats want the House of Representatives to vote on an indictment against Trump.
According to the constitution, this so-called impeachment results in impeachment proceedings in the Senate.
And there, success depends again on the votes of the Republicans: You need a two-thirds majority and the Democrats only make up half of the MPs.
Some Washington, DC residents take a clear position on this:
Sherman Wilhelm, Wahsington Resident:
"Just because you 're president doesn't mean you are exempt from the law, you should be held accountable." Rhett Johnson, Wahsington attorney: "History will look back on it and when we are in not act at this moment, we have failed. "
Impeachment could also mean new opportunities for ambitious politicians from Trump's own party.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL:
“Especially for those who calculate their own chances and who would like to become president themselves. For them, of course, it is good if they are rid of Trump forever, because then the way would be free to take on the whole story in 2024. "
There is a third option: Trump could resign himself.
A government official has already announced that Trump wants to stay in office until January 20.