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Donald Trump, former US President
»We will never give up, never give in.
Especially not when theft is involved. "
January 6, 2021: An unleashed mob storms the Capitol - spurred on by the lies of then US President Donald Trump about alleged electoral fraud.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
»I didn't expect it.
In all honesty, I really didn't expect it. "
“It was just surreal. It was surreal. You have to imagine that the capitol of world power, the sole world power, is being stormed by a bunch of madmen. "
"A scene like in a disaster movie."
US correspondent Roland Nelles spent several hours on the meadow in front of the parliament building on January 6, documenting the attempted coup by the losers.
Excerpt from Aufsager from January 6th, 2021
»It's all a very dangerous situation here in Washington.
And you can tell ... It's almost like a civil war. "
While the MPs should formally recognize Joe Biden's election victory, around 10,000 Trump supporters gathered in front of the building.
800 of them finally penetrated the Capitol, devastated offices, and left fear and horror.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
»How much trust do we still have in the stability of American democracy?
January 6th is the date on which this trust was shaken. "
A year later, America has still not come to terms with the attack - and Donald Trump continues to enjoy great popularity. During this gig in Georgia, he lets his supporters celebrate as if he had never been voted out of office.
Donald Trump, former US President
"We did even better in 2020 than in 2016."
No sooner had Donald Trump left the White House than speculation began about a comeback for the 2024 election.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
“He behaves like someone who really wants it.
Every day he sends out several begging emails to his followers, in which he asks for donations to support his next election campaign.
And also from his environment it is spread over and over again that he is determined to compete again.
The polls clearly see him as the number one candidate among the Republicans at the moment. "
Trump still has a firm grip on his own party. This is also proven by the dispute over a non-partisan committee of inquiry in the House of Representatives on the events of January 6th.
The Democrats had rejected the appointment of Trump-loyal MPs in the committee, the Republicans then withdrew all of their own nominations.
Two Republicans are now represented there - although both were appointed by Nancy Pelosi - the Democratic group leader.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
“These two Republicans are considered outsiders within the Republican Party.
Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, who sit on that committee, are basically isolated in their own party.
And so it is basically already clear that everything that this committee will find out will of course not be accepted by the other side of Republicans in the end as truth or as a result. "
At the same time, Republicans are working hard to change the franchise in their favor.
Since the beginning of the year, laws have been passed in 19 Republican states that make voting more difficult, especially for blacks - a section of the population that mostly elects the Democrats.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
»What one must see with particular concern is how the right to vote is restricted by skillful manipulation in some states.
And the Republicans are trying to secure their majorities in this way too.
That's a huge problem. "
In the state of Georgia, for example, the number of polling stations in mostly black neighborhoods has been reduced, opening times restricted and the distribution of water and food in lines in front of the ballot box banned - although in 2016 and 2020 many Americans had to queue for hours to cast their votes.
Joe Biden, US President
"I, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., solemnly swear ..."
After the constant hysteria of the Trump years, Joe Biden promised when he took office that the American nation would get back on track.
But the US president has so far not been able to unite the population behind him.
Roland Nelles, DER SPIEGEL
»Basically, Joe Biden has the strategy: He wants to convince through politics. He wants to do something for the country and he wants to improve people's lives and invests a lot of state money in this goal. But in the heated climate that we currently have, in this whipped up situation with all the polemics, also on the other side with the Republicans with Trump, it will be very difficult, I think, to have a sober discussion. It will be a very heated, emotional election campaign. "
Much is at stake in the midterms in November: If Biden wants to keep his chances of getting projects through in the second half of his term in office, the Democrats have to defend their narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Otherwise there is a risk of two years of blockade and standstill.