WASHINGTON – On Sunday, President Joe Biden emphasized the importance for Americans to remember the attack on their democracy that occurred on January 6, 2021, and to guard against the retelling of that day’s events in a misleading way.

“In the future, there will be many Americans who didn’t experience the January 6 riot themselves but will learn about it through videos, testimonies from that day, from history books, and the truths we share with our children,” Biden expressed in an op-ed piece published in The Washington Post.

“We cannot let the truth be forgotten,” he added.

These comments were made just before the four-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot, when a mob of supporters of Donald Trump attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to block Congress from formalizing the results of the 2020 election. Although Trump lost to Biden and refused to concede, he incited his followers to rally at the Capitol and “fight like hell” that day.

In an unexpected political comeback, Trump has been re-elected for a second presidential term as of November. On Monday, Congress is set to tally the electoral votes from the states and confirm the results of the election from November.

Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the vote count as the Senate president. Trump triumphed over Harris in November to reclaim the presidency.

‘A day when our democracy faced a challenge and emerged stronger’

Biden, who is set to depart from office in two weeks, remarked to reporters at the White House on Sunday that while he supports a peaceful transition, Americans should not ignore the events that unfolded four years ago.

Specifically mentioning Trump, Biden stated, “I believe his actions posed a serious threat to democracy, and I hope we have moved past it.”

In his op-ed, Biden expressed confidence that the vote count set for Monday would proceed smoothly, as has been the case historically.

“Historically, we have considered this vote count to be a routine event,” he pointed out. “However, following the events of January 6, 2021, we understand that we cannot take it for granted anymore.”

Biden reiterated that Americans must always remember the events of four years ago.

“There has been an ongoing effort to alter – even erase – the historical narrative of that day,” he remarked. “To convince us that we didn’t witness what we saw firsthand. To classify our concerns as a mere partisan fixation. To diminish it as a protest that simply spiraled out of control.”

“That is not the reality,” he asserted.

Biden urged Americans to annually acknowledge January 6, 2021, “as a day when our democracy faced a test and ultimately triumphed,” and to recognize that “democracy – even in our country – can never be taken for granted.”

“We must always remember that our democracy underpins everything we cherish – our freedoms, rights, liberties, and aspirations,” he stated. “And it is the responsibility of each generation of Americans to safeguard and uphold it.”