January 6 in photos: How the insurrection unfolded in real time

Jake Lahut,Lauren Frias,Rebecca CohenJan 6, 2022, 20:07 IST

Photos from January 6: Former Donald Trump's rally from the Ellipse at the White House (left), a man climbs down from makeshift gallows outside the Capitol siege.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

From former President Donald Trump's morning rally on the Ellipse to the moment the Capitol was breached, photographers documented one of the most infamous days in US history on January 6, 2021.

In chronological order, here are some of the most striking images from the insurrection one year ago.

The "Save America" rally

Busses line up the morning of January 6 as Trump supporters arrive in Washington D.C.Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Crowds gather for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Crowds form in anticipation of the "Save America" rally on the morning of Jan. 6.Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

An image of President Donald Trump appears on video screens before his speech to supporters from the Ellipse at the White House

An image of Trump appears on video screens before his speech to supporters from the Ellipse at the White House.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Giuliani Jan 6

Rudy Giuliani, then a personal lawyer for Trump, speaks during the "Save America Rally." He would later insist his "trial by combat" remarks were a "Game of Thrones" reference.Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo with the White House in the background, President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Washington.

Trump speaks at his rally on the Ellipse outside the White House in Washington.AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File

The walk over to the Capitol

With the Washington Monument in the background, people attend a rally in support of Trump.AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

A man wearing a gas mask on the way from the rally at the Ellipse to the Capitol.

A man wearing a gas mask on the way from the rally at the Ellipse to the Capitol.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Crowds arrive for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election.

Crowds arrive to gather outside the Capitol in protest of the certification of the Electoral College results.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Crowds arrive for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election.

Capitol Police find themselves out numbered

Members of the crowd who were participating in the "Stop the Steal" rally outside the Capitol and break through parts of the perimeter.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

capitol siege

Trump supporters confront police and security forces at the US Capitol in Washington, DC.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty

Capitol attack West Front

Insurrectionists loyal to Trump breach the Capitol in Washington on January 6.AP Photo/John Minchillo

Capitol attack

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the Capitol.Brent Stirton/Getty Images

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, climbing scaffolding as they try to storm the US Capitol.

A rioter sticks his middle finger in the air as he climbs scaffolding outside the Capitol.Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

Capitol rioter climbs scaffolding on January 6

A second Trump supporter climbs up scaffolding outside the Capitol.Getty Images

capitol riot siege

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol.Brent Stirton/Getty Images

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the U.S. Capitol during clashes with police, during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021.

Capitol police are pinned down by rioters after retreating from the initial perimeter.REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the U.S. Capitol during clashes with police, during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021.

Pro-Trump protesters surround and assault D.C. police officer Michael Fanone during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pro-Trump protesters surround and assault D.C. police officer Michael Fanone during the Capitol riot.Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

A man climbs down after being photographed with a noose.

A man climbs down a makeshift gallows after being photographed with a noose.Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The breach

Rioters broke past Capitol Police as members are evacuated from the House and Senate.Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images

GettyImages 1294935359

Jacob Chansley, also known as the QAnon Shaman, inside the Capitol on January 6.Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

January 6 attack Capitol evacuation

In gas masks, Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., and Annie Kuster, D-N.H., center, take cover as rioters attempt to break into the Capitol.Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Capitol attack chambers barricaded

Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, uses a sign to deter rioters as they tried to break into the House chamber to stop the certification of the Electoral College votes. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican of Oklahoma is on the right.Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump riot in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of Trump riot in front of the U.S. Capitol Building.REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump riot in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.

The aftermath

Some members of the US House of Representatives return to an otherwise empty House Chambers following the riot to finish counting Electoral votes.AP

Broken glass window at Capitol

A flag hangs between broken windows after Trump supporters tried to break through police barriers outside the Capitol.AP

Andy Kim

Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of January 7, 2021, the day following the riots.AP

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January 6 in photos: How the insurrection unfolded in real time

The "Save America" rally

Crowds gather for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC.

An image of President Donald Trump appears on video screens before his speech to supporters from the Ellipse at the White House

Giuliani Jan 6

In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo with the White House in the background, President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Washington.

The walk over to the Capitol

A man wearing a gas mask on the way from the rally at the Ellipse to the Capitol.

Crowds arrive for the "Stop the Steal" rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election.

Capitol Police find themselves out numbered

capitol siege

Capitol attack West Front

Capitol attack

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces, climbing scaffolding as they try to storm the US Capitol.

Capitol rioter climbs scaffolding on January 6

capitol riot siege

Pro-Trump protesters storm into the U.S. Capitol during clashes with police, during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021.

Pro-Trump protesters surround and assault D.C. police officer Michael Fanone during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

A man climbs down after being photographed with a noose.

The breach

GettyImages 1294935359

January 6 attack Capitol evacuation

Capitol attack chambers barricaded

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump riot in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S., January 6, 2021.

The aftermath

Broken glass window at Capitol

Andy Kim