Protests began in multiple cities in the United States following the 2020 United States presidential election between then-President Donald Trump and Democratic Party challenger Vice President Joe Biden, held on November 3, 2020. Biden won the election, receiving 81.3 million votes (51.3%) to Trump's 74.2 million (46.9%) and winning the Electoral College by 306 to 232. Biden's victory became clear on November 7, after the ballots (including mail-in ballots) had been tabulated.(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) The Electoral College voted on December 14, in accordance with law, formalizing Biden's victory.

Before and after the election, Trump, his presidential campaign, and his allies challenged the legitimacy of the election and falsely claimed widespread electoral fraud.Multiple sources:

(5) Trump and his allies filed dozens of legal challenges to the results, which were rejected by at least 86 judges from across the political spectrum, in both the state and federal courts, including by federal judges appointed by Trump himself. The courts found that his claims had no factual or legal basis. His unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voting fraud were also refuted by state election officials.

Pro-Trump protesters, including groups such as the Proud Boys, engaged in multiple demonstrations in Washington, D.C., state capitols, and other locations nationwide protesting the election results and echoing Trump's claims of election fraud. In November and December 2020, there were nighttime clashes and street scuffles in Washington, D.C. between Trump supporters who refused to accept the president's defeat, including the Proud Boys, and counterprotesters.Nearly 2 dozen arrested in Trump protests in Washington, Associated Press (November 15, 2020).Antifa Snow, David Goldman & Lisa Marie Pane, 'This isn't over!' Trump supporters refuse to accept defeat, Associated Press (November 7, 2020).

On January 6—the day when Congress formally counts the electoral votes—Trump supporters gathered for the "Save America" rally where attendees heard speeches from President Trump and his personal lawyer, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Before the speeches were over, a mob of protesters marched on Congress and stormed the Capitol building. Congress was in session at the time, certifying the Electoral College vote count. Several buildings in the U.S. Capitol complex were evacuated, and protesters broke past security to enter the U.S. Capitol building, including National Statuary Hall. All buildings in the Capitol complex were subsequently locked down. There was reportedly an armed standoff at the doors to the House chambers, one person was shot within the Capitol building, and one Capitol Police officer died after having a stroke the next day. At least two improvised explosive devices were found.

In the aftermath of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, at least 36 House Democrats called for Trump's immediate impeachment and removal by Congress. State-level officials including Maryland Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford supported impeachment, and representatives called on Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump via the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Trump continued to face backlash in the days following and, due to his use of social media to encourage his supporters' protests and violence, was eventually restricted or banned from most online platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and his preferred Twitter.

Armed supporters of Trump have continued protesting in the aftermath of the storming of the US Capitol. In the lead-up to the inauguration ceremony for President Biden, thousands of National Guard troops were dispatched to the capital, with up to 25,000 present on inauguration day.

Causes

In remarks from the White House in the early hours of November 4, President Donald Trump alleged, without presenting evidence, that "fraud" was being committed during vote counting efforts and remarked, "We will win this. As far as I'm concerned, we already have won." Some major networks conducted live fact-checking and interrupted the president's speech while others offered uninterrupted coverage. Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon suggested that Trump begin his second term of office by ordering the executions of Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher A. Wray as "a warning to federal bureaucrats".

Political observers had suggested the possibility of a contested election and premature claim of victory by Trump in the months before of the election. This expectation was based on the likelihood that initial votes counted on election night would skew heavily Republican while mail-in ballots would skew heavily Democratic, a blue shift that became more favorable to Biden as more votes were counted and could be misrepresented as fraudulent.

Pro-Trump protests

Pro-Trump events related to the election outcome have taken place around the country beginning on November 4.

November 2020 November 4 In Phoenix, Arizona, pro-Trump protesters gathered to demand the city's remaining ballots be counted. Numerous other protests occurred that day in major cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and San Diego, some about the election and some about racial inequality in the country.

November 5 Facebook banned a group page called "Stop the Steal", which Trump supporters used to organize protests against the election results after his allegations of electoral fraud. It achieved 300,000 followers before Facebook shut it down, citing calls for violence by some participants. It was reported to have been adding a thousand new members every ten seconds. In Atlanta, while poll workers inside State Farm Arena counted ballots, pro-Trump protesters gathered outside chanting "Stop the cheat!"

November 6 In Detroit, more than 200 protesters, some of whom were armed, rallied outside the tally room at TCF Center as Biden and Kamala Harris took the lead in the vote count for the state. Phil Robinson, founder of Michigan Liberty Militia, which has been deemed an "extreme anti-government group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, said he was at the rally to fight "tyranny and fraud." In Youngstown, Ohio, about fifty pro-Trump protesters rallied outside the WKBN TV news station. Pro-Trump protests were held in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In Arizona, far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones called on protesters to "surround the White House and support the President".

November 7 In Little Rock, Arkansas, a group of about fifty Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, were met with a smaller group of counter-protesters at the State Capitol building. In North Las Vegas, a hundred Trump supporters demonstrated outside the Clark County Election Department. In Lansing, more than five hundred Trump supporters protested the election results at the state Capitol. In Raleigh, North Carolina, Ryan Fournier led "Stop the Steal" rallies at Halifax Mall and the North Carolina Executive Mansion. Counter-protesters debated Trump supporters and transformed "Stop the Steal" into a party at Halifax Mall. In Salem, Oregon, two separate protests were seen with participants questioning the results of the election. Four people were arrested during the protests.

November 8 In Phoenix, Arizona, hundreds of Trump supporters, many of whom were armed, protested Biden's victory, claiming that the Democratic Party had stolen the election. There were also small groups of counter-protesters. In Austintown, Ohio, hundreds of pro-Trump protesters rallied outside local businesses with the intention of marching towards the local Walmart.

November 14

In Washington, D.C., thousands of protesters rallied to support President Trump's election claims.. Attendees included white nationalists and members of far-right groups such as the Proud Boys, with some wearing helmets and bullet-proof vests. Some Republican members of Congress also attended. Demonstrators gave various names to their action, including "Million MAGA March", "Stop the Steal" rally, and "March for Trump".The President waved to demonstrators as his Secret Service motorcade passed Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue during the morning before traveling to the Trump National Golf Club northwest of Washington.. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department arrested 20 people for various offenses including firearm violations, assault, assaulting a police officer, and disorderly conduct.(1) After nightfall, tensions escalated between demonstrators and counter-protesters. Anti-Trump demonstrators stole and burned MAGA merchandise, tables belonging to vendors of Trump apparel were overturned, and fireworks were set off. Five blocks east of the White House, violence broke out between counter-protesters and the president's supporters, who wielded batons. The groups brawled for several minutes before police arrived and cleared the intersection. One man was stabbed in the back during the disturbance and was taken to a hospital.

November 15 In San Antonio, several hundred pro-Trump protesters marched through downtown San Antonio for approximately an hour. At the same time, a caravan of decorated cars drove through the city to celebrate Biden's victory.

November 18 Talk-show host Alex Jones and political commentator Nick Fuentes led a group of protesters in "Stop the Steal" protest in the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. He later called for fans to "go to the capital of Georgia now and you must surround the governor's mansion now."

November 21 In Sacramento, two hundred protesters attended a protest in support of the President.PHOTOS: Trump supporters rally in downtown Sacramento for third consecutive week The State Hornet The protest became violent once protesters marched to Cesar Chavez Plaza, where the protest was declared an unlawful assembly due to fighting; one protestor was arrested.Dozens gather for 'Stop the Steal' rally at State Capitol KCRA-TV'Stop the Steal' protests presidential election results, new pandemic restrictions at state Capitol ABC10 KXTVThird Straight Weekend Of Protests, Violence As Trump Supporters Descend On California's Capitol CapRadio

November 22 In Charlotte, dozens of protesters organized the city's first election protest in the form of a vehicle convoy at Marshall Park.

November 26 In Chicago, 60 protesters held a rally in support of Trump at Millennium Park. Participants included Edgar "Remy Del Toro" Gonzalez, president of the Chicago chapter of the Proud Boys, and Back the Blue supporters. A few dozen anti-Trump activists counter-protested.

December 2020 December 5 In Michigan, the Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson tweeted that dozens of armed protesters gathered outside her home chanting "Stop the Steal" and held signs with the same message. Videos of the protest were later uploaded to social media and part of the protest was live streamed on Facebook.

December 12