'Democracy Was Attacked': Joe Biden Slams Donald Trump In US Riots Anniversary Speech

Speaking on the occasion of first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, Biden vowed that he would let no one put a "dagger at the throat of America's democracy."

US President Joe Biden. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: United States President Joe Biden on Thursday slammed his predecessor Donald Trump for the Capitol riots which took place in the country a year back. The violent attack in Capitol allegedly by Trump supporters even raised global concerns about the future of America's democracy.

Speaking on the occasion of first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, Biden vowed that he would let no one put a "dagger at the throat of America's democracy."

Last year, for the first time in our history, a president who just lost an election tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power as a violent mob breached the Capitol.

But they failed.

And on this day of remembrance we must make sure that such an attack never happens again.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 6, 2022

In his speech from Statuary Hall inside the Capitol, Biden even said that the attack was an armed insurrection.

"Are we going to be a nation where we allow partisan election officials to overturn the legally expressed will of the people?" US President asked. "We cannot allow ourselves to be that kind of nation," he continued.

"One year ago today in this sacred place, democracy was attacked. Simply attacked. The will of the people was under assault. The Constitution, our Constitution, faced the gravest of threats," Biden said.

One year ago today, democracy was attacked. The will of the people was under assault. And our Constitution faced the gravest of threats.

I’m heading to the Capitol this morning to speak about the day of insurrection, the state of American democracy, and where we go from here.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 6, 2022

The veteran Democrat also alleged that former president Donald Trump "did nothing for hours" when the Capitol was under siege.

Biden, however, did not name Trump directly but made it clear whom he was talking about in a blistering portrait of a man he said tried to cheat his way out of defeat in the election.

"The former president of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election," Biden said adding that he (Trump) values power over principle.

Here is the truth: The former president of the United States has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election.

He’s done so because he values power over principle. Because his bruised ego matters more to him than our democracy or Constitution.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 6, 2022

On the same day last year Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 election results to Joe Biden.

According to Bloomberg news, to date, the Justice Department has charged more than 725 individuals for storming the Capitol, and more than 150 rioters have pleaded guilty to charges, from assaulting police to felony obstruction.