Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to “tear down this wall” around the U.S. Capitol in a new video.
The video ad targeted the miles of fencing erected around the U.S. Capitol building after the Jan. 6 siege as Congress sought to certify the results of the Electoral College for Joe Biden.
The unrest led to at least one death, destruction of property and numerous arrests. More than 25,000 National Guard members deployed to Washington for the Inauguration of the new president.
Two months later, thousands of National Guard members continue deployment in Washington.
Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré published a new report that includes and ongoing “Quick Reaction Force” to enhance security against future Capitol threats.
Many lawmakers supported Honoré’s briefing Monday, but said the nation’s security response must be balanced with allowing access to the Capitol.
But not everyone favors the ongoing military presence.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) stated, “No one likes seeing the fortress-like security around the Capitol.”
Boebert’s ad cuts to the heart of the issue for Trump supporters.
“You protect what you love,” Boebert said in the ad as she walked in front of the Capitol building. “President Trump built a big, beautiful wall because he loves America because he wanted to secure our country. … Democrats — they fought him every step of the way. And now, welcome to Fort Pelosi, where Democrats decry walls from within their own heavily guarded, razor-wire wall.”
Boebert ended the video with, “Democrats don’t want to protect you because they don’t care about you, but they’ll spare no expense protecting themselves. … Madam Speaker, tear down this wall.”
Conservatives have applauded the Congresswoman’s efforts. The Twitter video has already been viewed more than 648,000 times, with 21,100 comments, 5,400 retweets and more than 11,000 likes.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said Boebert’s video exposed Democrat hypocrisy. The lawmaker retweeted her ad with the comment, “Democrats decried the existence of walls along our southern border meant to protect Americans and defend our nation’s sovereignty. My friend and colleague Lauren Boebert exposes the hypocrisy of the Left in building a wall around the U.S. Capitol in this exceptional video.”
Others have condemned the video, particularly the gunshot sound at its conclusion. Boebert has pushed for concealed carry rights for lawmakers at the Capitol.
Yet the wall around the Capitol has become a bipartisan issue. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) told reporters Tuesday, “The fencing is obviously a concern to many people, me included.” He added, “Whether that ought to be permanent, I think most people think that ought not to be a permanent reality on the Hill. But we need to make sure that we can in fact secure the seat of government of the United States of America.”
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) condemned Congress in a Monday interview on WMAL’s “Mornings on the Mall” radio show for being “afraid of its shadow” after threats of a potential Mar. 4 Capitol attack.
“I don’t think there is the kind of threat that could keep us away from the Capitol, razor wire on the Capitol or fencing on the Capitol,” she said. “That’s why Congress has got to step in itself so that… we don’t militarize our Capitol.”
