To begin this article, I will clearly and succinctly list the most important facts surrounding the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. In the months leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Trump, the incumbent candidate, repeatedly discredited the validity of mail-in and absentee voting, as well as suggested multiple times that the results of the election may be fraudulent. Before the election, Trump was repeatedly asked if he would guarantee a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose the election, and Trump never confirmed that there would be until weeks after his loss. Following President Joe Biden’s victory, Trump refused to concede the election, continuing to state that it was a fraud and that he was the rightful president, as well as filing dozens of lawsuits, all but a handful of which were dismissed. On Jan. 6, the day Congress was set to certify the election results, pro-Trump protesters turned violent and stormed the Senate building, resulting in multiple injuries and deaths. On Jan. 13, President Trump was impeached. On Feb. 13, President Trump was acquitted after five days of trial by a vote of 57 for and 43 against.

This sequence of events is one of the most dysfunctional, unjust, and corrupt periods in American governance. The actions of the sitting president directly caused the death of Americans at the hands of their fellow citizens and the breaching of the nation’s capitol for the first time in over 200 years. The most deeply upsetting fact, however, is that he will face no legal repercussion for these actions. Despite a majority vote for his conviction, representing over half of the nation, President Trump faces no consequences. This shows a clear failing of the system of checks and balances, and exposes the true affiliations of many prominent politicians.

There are two ways to look at this situation. The easier and more comforting option is to say “well, we didn’t convict him, but at least he is out of office.” The second is to come to the uncomfortable realization that the true intentions of a man trying to undermine democracy and illegally maintain power were shown, and that the current legal system and the decision makers therein concluded that he did nothing wrong and should be free to peacefully retire from his presidential tenure. I assert that the second option is a necessary acknowledgement to make. It is incredibly important to not breeze past this moment in American politics and focus on and evaluate the gravity and grimness of the situation. If the majority of the population forgets the fear and uncertainty that many of us felt on Jan. 6, then the events of that day may well happen again. Even if we remember these events as a historic landmark, we must also remember just how unsettling and disturbing they were in order to preserve the integrity of the American government and its elections. Simply moving past this time with little afterthought is direct disregard and disrespect for the conventions and guarantees of American democracy. 

I stress the importance of this situation because there is little likelihood that those who support President Trump, and therefore maintain his virtue and innocence, will ever be dissuaded from their support. Because there is little opportunity to change minds across political lines, I instead wish to encourage more consideration and reflection by those who agree with my basic views. If the beliefs of the supporters of President Trump are not fervently and intently contradicted, cross examined, and rebuked, the political conditions that led to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot may appear again in the future. In order to recover from the repeated attacks by President Trump against democracy, the people must be cognizant of his abuses of power, and they must actively counter those who are passive towards, or in support of, these actions.