Former President Donald Trump addressed his supporters during a rally in Iowa on Saturday, where he largely avoided mentioning the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. Instead, Trump centered his speech on countering President Joe Biden's argument that the riot and Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election posed a significant threat to the republic.

During the rally, Trump responded to Biden's accusations, stating, "This guy goes around and says I'm a threat to democracy. He's a threat to democracy.... You can be grossly incompetent and be a threat to democracy." Trump, who is currently facing federal election interference charges, referred to the events of January 6 as "J6" and expressed confusion over his impeachment for his involvement.

While Trump avoided dwelling on the failed attempt to overturn the election, he continued to promote the falsehood that he won the 2020 election. He accused Biden of "weaponizing law enforcement for high-level election interference like our country has never seen" in order to defeat him in 2024. Biden, however, has stated that he is not involved in the Justice Department's decisions regarding prosecuting Trump.

Despite his reluctance to directly address the events of January 6, it was evident that Trump sees a political necessity in engaging in the debate over which of the two represents a threat to democracy. One of Trump's advisers emphasized that the campaign should always be on offense, rather than playing a defensive role.

Meanwhile, Biden has made the January 6 assault a central focus of his campaign against Trump, accusing him of being willing to sacrifice democracy for personal gain. The storming of the Capitol, leading to Trump's second impeachment and criminal charges against him and his supporters, has become an indelible part of his record. Biden argues that it is also indicative of Trump's intentions for the future.

During his rally in Iowa, Trump also took the opportunity to target his top Republican rivals, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. He criticized both of them for proposing sales taxes and raising the retirement age for Social Security, asserting that neither of them would take the necessary steps to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

The rally took place just nine days before the Iowa primary, where Trump is currently leading in the polls against DeSantis, Haley, and other Republican contenders. Additionally, in three days' time, Trump is scheduled to appear in a federal appellate court in Washington to debate his immunity from prosecution for his attempts to overturn the election.

Overall, Trump's Iowa rally showcased his determination to counter Biden's claims while downplaying the gravity of the Capitol assault, despite its lasting impact on his presidency.