Was the 1/6 riot at the capitol an insurrection, a coup attempt or something else?

Some people, e.g., me, saw the riot at the capitol on 1/6 as a coup attempt. Some deny that, but call it an insurrection. Others, e.g., the Republican Party, downplay it and/or legitimize it various ways, such as calling it legitimate political discourse.  

Insurrection

Reasons for calling it an insurrection include 

(i) it met the definition of an insurrection as "a rising against civil or political authority", 

(ii) the attackers used force to breach multiple police barriers, assault law enforcement officers, and illegally enter the Capitol building, 

(iii) thousands of people participated in the attack, overwhelming law enforcement, 

(iv) the violence resulted in multiple deaths and over 140 police officers injured, 

(v) the attack disrupted a core constitutional process (certification of electoral votes) and forced the evacuation of Congress, 

(vi) many participants openly discussed plans for violent action in the weeks leading up to January 6, 

(vii) the attackers had specific targets, including attempts to locate Vice President Pence and members of Congress, and 

(viii) the House of Representatives impeached President Trump for "incitement of insurrection". 

Most experts call DJT's 1/6 event an insurrection.

Coup attempt

Reasons for calling it a coup attempt include  

(i) The attack was planned, not spontaneous and had been discussed openly by Trump supporters for weeks beforehand,

(ii) the goal was to stop the certification of the 2020 election results and keep Trump in power despite his loss,
(iii) force was used to try to seize government power via violently storming the Capitol,
(iv) the attack was incited by the president, e.g., Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and "fight",
(v) some government officials were involved, and that constituted an attempt to use governmental power to overturn the election,
(vi) The events align with contemporary and historical definitions of "insurrection" as a violent uprising against civil authority or the government,
(vii) some experts draw comparisons to events like Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch, which was also a short-lived, localized attempt to seize power, and
(viii) the attack posed a serious threat to the peaceful transfer of power, a cornerstone of democratic governance.

One definition of a coup attempt is it is an unsuccessful sudden and illegal effort by a small group to overthrow an existing government or leader through force or violence. Key aspects include, (i) it is carried out by a small group, often military or political elites, rather than a large popular movement, and (ii) it aims to be sudden and decisive, often occurring over a short period of hours or days. What was different about DJT's coup attempt from the norm was that DJT's goal was not to rapidly seize power and replace the existing leadership or government, but instead prevent him from losing power. 

According to that definition, coup attempts can vary widely in their level of planning, coordination, and violence. Some may be well-organized military operations, while others could be more spontaneous or poorly executed. The term can apply to events ranging from elaborate plots to seize power to more impromptu efforts to disrupt the existing government.

Some argue that DJT's 1/6 attack lacks some characteristics usually associated with coups, such as a lack of sufficient organization and planning. Some argue that DJT's 1/6 attack was too disorganized, delusional, and poorly planned to count as a real, serious coup attempt. Instead, that arguments characterizes 1/6 depending on "arcane procedures and 'magical thinking'" and being "ill-conceived and poorly coordinated".

Other factors cited for rejecting the coup attempt label include (i) an absence of a national economic or security crises, instead the only "crisis" was Trump losing an election, (ii) lack of significant government support, (iii) there was no military involvement, (iv) it was focused only on the Capitol in Washington D.C., rather than involving multiple cities, and (v), it didn't last long enough to be considered a coup, though this is disputed by some experts

For me, the clear intent of DJT and his co-conspirators in and out of government itself to block the transfer of power by violence made 1/6 a coup attempt. That it was short lived, based on magical thinking or lacking military involvement does not change that belief. If the 1/6 event had succeeded the intended result was to keep DJT in power by lies and violence despite losing the election. 

Something else

As noted above, the Republican Party called the 1/6 attack legitimate political discourse. That argument often points to the people there who were peaceful and just wanted to exercise their right to protest a stolen election. That the election was not stolen did not matter. Some shift the blame for 1/6 violence on others like Nancy Pelosi, or a deep state false flag attack by government infiltrators wanting to discredit DJT. Other false claims include the Republican assertion that (i) the rioters were completely unarmed, and (ii) the police invited the rioters into the capitol building. 

2023 poll: in 2023 fewer believed the 2020

election was legitimate than in 2021 --

DJT's Big Lie is working