The political right tends to view the people who orchestrated the attack, who were later prosecuted for their actions, as political hostages. The political left views the orchestrators of the attack as insurrectionists who attempted to overthrow the results of a free and fair election.
The assault interrupted a joint session of Congress that had been called to certify the presidential election results. It was broadly viewed as an insurrection or an attempted coup d’état. The FBI and various law enforcement agencies classified the incident as an act of domestic terrorism (source).
How the Left and the Right View the Capitol Attack
The Left Sees:
The left’s perspective frames the event as not only a violent uprising but also an existential threat to American democracy, driven by the refusal to accept the legitimacy of the 2020 election results. They believe the attack exposed the rise of far-right extremism, including white nationalism and conspiracy theories, and unanimously condemn the violence.
The Right Sees:
The right emphasizes political polarization, a belief in widespread election fraud, and skepticism about the government’s response. Many continue to believe the 2020 election was stolen, despite evidence to the contrary, and some describe the riot as “mostly peaceful.”
Comparing BLM Protests to the Attack on the Capitol
The narrative of George Floyd’s death depends greatly on perspective. Some right-wing narratives falsely suggest Antifa instigated riots, while the majority of protests were peaceful. Court records indicate that more than 93% of BLM protests were nonviolent (source).
Meanwhile, many Jan. 6 defendants received pardons from President Trump despite involvement in violent assaults on police. Comparisons between the two events highlight differences in race, political bias, and media coverage shaping public perception.
How the Media Continues to Shape Public Opinion
Liberal media largely frame the Capitol attack as a threat to democracy, emphasizing Trump’s role in inciting violence. Conservative outlets focus on claims of election fraud, often spreading misinformation despite legal defeats such as Fox News paying $787.5 million in a 2024 lawsuit. Both sides agree that political violence should not be condoned, though they differ on scale and motivation.