A lot has been reported about the events of January 6, 2021 when Trump supporters stormed and breached into the U.S. Capitol. While American citizens need to be informed of those events, they also should consider the reactions of foreign leaders around the world. While it is important to know what our allies think, it is even more significant to acknowledge how our enemies are reacting to this horrible event. 

Last week, Trump supporters gathered by the White House for the “Save America” rally. At noon Trump spoke to the crowd about how the election had been stolen from them through voter fraud. He incited the crowd in several ways, such as when he stated, “We’re going to the Capitol. We’re going to try and give them [Republicans] the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.” As congress began a joint session in the Capitol’s chamber to validate Joe Biden’s victory, Trump supporters from the rally marched to the Capitol and then swarmed it. The swarm of protesters quickly became violent and broke through the line of overwhelmed and underprepared law enforcement guarding the capitol. The mob stormed further into the building and proceeded to take photos featuring Trump 2020, confederate, and American flags. During this chaos, Trump took to twitter writing, “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution…” It wasn’t until three hours later when Trump finally released a statement telling the supporters to leave while simultaneously expressing his love for their support and sympathy for their actions. Finally, the Capitol Police were able to control the situation. Mike Pence reopened the senate almost eight hours after the mob initially stormed the building. The senate then worked through the night. At 4 AM on January 7th, 2021, they verified Biden’s victory in the election.

Foriegn nations and leaders’ responses to the event were reflective of both their political ideologies and affiliations with the United States. Democratic nations and leaders expressed horror while leaders of communist or socialist governments such as Putin and Xi Jinping expressed delight in the failure of democracy. In Germany and France, both American allies and democratic nations, leaders demonstrated their sympathy for the United States. German chancellor Angela Merkel lashed out against Trump stating, “A basic rule of democracy is: After elections, there are winners and losers. Both have to play their roles with decency and a sense of responsibility, so that democracy itself remains the winner.” However, In China, the government used the images of chaos as an example of how Democracy doesn’t work. They compared the storming of the U.S. Capitol to the wrecking of Hong Kong’s legislature in the protests for freedom in their own nation. An article published thursday in China’s state newspaper, Global Times, states, “Chinese web users still remember the distress and anger they felt when they saw rioters in Hong Kong storming the Legislative Council Complex, scrawling graffiti, smashing and robbing items, and, instead of condemning the violence, U.S. politicians hailed the ‘courage’ of these mobs.” As for Russia, Vladimir Putin offered no comment in response to the actions of the capitol. However, Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee for Russia, responded saying, “The holiday of democracy is over… America no longer charts the course, and therefore has lost all rights to set one. Let alone to impose it on others.” As shown by the wave of criticism from our enemies, The United States is in a very vulnerable position right now.

America’s credibility and reputation is essential to maintaining status on the global stage. Foreign leaders’ trust in the U.S. is essential for peace, negotiations on treaties, allies both politically and economically, and international cooperation. After the events on January 6th the credibility of the United States as a powerful, democratic, and thriving nation has taken a large blow. In the eyes of foriegn countries the United States has always been a global powerhouse and leader. Is that still true after this demonstration on the Capitol? Moving forward, what happens now? Whatever the answer may be, it is clear that the United States government needs to demonstrate strength and unity in an extremely vulnerable time of transition of powers.

Sources:

https://time.com/5928446/china-reaction-capitol-hong-kong-legco/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-capitol-riot-donald-trump-protests-foreign-reaction/

https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-slams-donald-trump-capitol-riot/