Trump mob mentality: A charismatic leader with an armed following and a Capitol target
When someone as powerful as the president tells a large group of his supporters to 'fight like hell,' they will listen to him and feed off each other.
Catherine A. Sanderson
Opinion contributor
Many Americans watched never-seen-before video footage of a mob invading the U.S. Capitol as House impeachment managers presented their case this week against former President Donald Trump. Rioters smashed windows, crushed a police officer in a door, and chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” It seems clear that the events of Jan. 6 — as bad as they were — had the potential to be far worse.