As 2020 drew to a close, the shadow of COVID-19 still hung heavy over the country. But another storm was brewing — one that would push the already divided nation to the brink and lead directly to Donald Trump’s second impeachment.
This is the story of the turbulent 2020 presidential election, the bitter fight over its results, and the dramatic events of January 6, 2021.
The campaign had been unlike any other. Joe Biden emerged as the Democratic nominee after a chaotic primary. Trump, seeking reelection, held large rallies even as the pandemic raged, often downplaying the virus and focusing on the economy, border security, and his record on judges and foreign policy. Biden campaigned more cautiously, often from his basement in Delaware, emphasizing competence and a return to normalcy.
The debates were tense. The first one in September was chaotic, with both candidates interrupting each other repeatedly. The second debate was canceled after Trump contracted COVID-19 in early October. When they finally met again, the tone was slightly more controlled, but the divisions remained sharp.
Election Day on November 3, 2020, brought drama that stretched for days. Because of the massive expansion of mail-in voting due to the pandemic, counting took longer than usual. On election night, Trump appeared to be leading in several key states. But as mail-in ballots were counted in the following days, the leads shifted toward Biden.
By November 7, major news networks called the race for Joe Biden. He had won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. Biden also won the popular vote by more than seven million votes. Trump refused to concede. He claimed widespread voter fraud, especially in states like Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. He filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the results, but most were dismissed by courts — including judges appointed by Trump himself — for lack of evidence.
The president and his allies continued to insist the election had been stolen. They pointed to irregularities in vote counting, changes in election procedures, and affidavits from poll watchers. Trump’s legal team, led by Rudy Giuliani, held press conferences making explosive claims. Meanwhile, Trump pressured state officials, including Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, to “find” enough votes to overturn the results in that state.
As January 6, 2021, approached — the day Congress would certify the electoral votes — tensions reached a boiling point. Trump called for a “Save America” rally near the White House. In his speech that morning, he told supporters to “fight like hell” and march to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard.
What followed shocked the nation. Thousands of Trump supporters marched to the Capitol. Some broke through police lines, smashed windows, and stormed the building. Lawmakers were evacuated as rioters clashed with Capitol Police. The certification process was halted for hours. Five people died in connection with the events that day, including one Capitol Police officer.
By evening, the violence was brought under control. Congress returned and, late into the night, certified Joe Biden as the winner. Trump eventually released a video urging his supporters to go home and condemning the violence, while still repeating his claims that the election was rigged.
On January 13, 2021, just days before leaving office, the House of Representatives impeached Trump for a second time — this time on a single article of “incitement of insurrection.” Ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach. The Senate trial took place after Trump had already left office. He was acquitted again, with 57 senators voting to convict — short of the two-thirds majority needed.
For Trump and millions of his supporters, January 6 was a protest that got out of hand, and the election truly had been stolen through fraud and unconstitutional changes to voting rules. They saw the second impeachment as political revenge.
For Biden supporters and many others, the events of January 6 represented a dangerous attack on American democracy — an attempt to overturn a free and fair election by force. They viewed Trump’s rhetoric as directly responsible for inciting the mob.
The 2020 election and its aftermath marked one of the most contentious and traumatic chapters in modern U.S. political history. It deepened distrust in institutions, widened the national divide, and left lasting questions about the peaceful transfer of power.
Trump’s first term ended on January 20, 2021, as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president. The man who had arrived on a golden escalator in 2015 left Washington under a cloud of controversy, two impeachments, and a country more polarized than when he began.
But the story of Donald Trump in politics was far from over. (Ethan Clark UK)