Biden condemns the January 6 riot in a Washington Post op-ed: "We must prevent another occurrence"

In a Washington Post op-ed, President Biden urged Americans to remember the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and condemned attempts to erase it, without explicitly mentioning his successor, President-elect Donald Trump.

"As he prepares to depart from the presidency, Biden has vowed to uphold the peaceful transfer of power and maintain the traditions we hold dear in America. In a Washington Post op-ed, he stated that the election results will be certified peacefully and he has invited the incoming president to the White House on the morning of January 20th. Biden will be present for the inauguration that afternoon."

Trump is a threat to democratic institutions in the U.S., as Biden has repeatedly warned, calling him a "genuine threat to democracy" in comments from the White House on Sunday.

Biden wrote that a repeat of the event from four years ago is unacceptable.

"A violent mob of thousands of people stormed the Capitol, destroying windows and doors, while a bomb was discovered near the incoming vice president's location, putting her life in danger. Law enforcement officials were brutally assaulted, with some ultimately losing their lives."

Biden's essay, published on Monday, the anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, emphasized his commitment to respecting the peaceful transition of power.

On Jan. 6, as the newly elected president, I addressed the nation and urged for peace and the resumption of certification, Biden stated.

"On this day, we must remember our debt to those who founded this nation and those who fought and died for it."

"The president emphasized the importance of remembering January 6, 2021, as a day when our democracy was tested and ultimately prevailed. He urged us to commit to commemorating this day annually to remind us that democracy, even in America, is never guaranteed."

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the certification of Trump's November victory over her. Trump is the second president to win non-consecutive terms.

Trump has stated that he will swiftly pardon Jan. 6 defendants, but the specifics of his actions and the scope of any pardons remain uncertain.