The Most Surreal Images From the Pro-Trump Riot at the U.S. Capitol

By Holly Allen, Madeline Ducharme, and Josh Levin

Jan 06, 20214:40 PM

A man carries a Confederate flag over his shoulder. — A supporter of President Donald Trump carries a Confederate battle flag on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses. Reuters/Mike Theiler

On Wednesday, supporters of Donald Trump, goaded on by the president, stormed the U.S. Capitol. Here’s a selection of the most striking and horrifying photographs taken inside and outside the building.

This post will be updated.

A large group of pro-Trump rioters storm into the U.S. Capitol. Some people in the tightly packed crowd are wearing red MAGA hats. — Rioters break into the U.S. Capitol. Win McNamee/Getty Images

A Trump supporter wearing a surgical mask and holding an iPhone sits at a desk in the Capitol's Senate chamber. — A Trump supporter sits in the Senate chamber in Washington, D.C. Win McNamee/Getty Images

A man with a backpack swings from the Senate chamber's balcony. He is hanging on with one hand. — A man hanging from the balcony in the Senate chamber. Win McNamee/Getty Images

A protester in a Trump beanie smiles and waves at the camera while walking through the Capitol holding a podium for the speaker of the House. — A smiling supporter of Donald Trump holds a Speaker podium inside the Capitol and waves at photographers. Win McNamee/Getty Images

A man stands in front of a massive patriotic painting. He waves a flag that reads, "Trump is president." — A man holds a Trump flag inside the Capitol on Wednesday. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Three Capitol police officers inside the House Chamber point their gun at a door. — U.S. Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

A shirtless, screaming man wearing a raccoon hat with horn screams in the Capitol. — A man screams “Freedom” inside the Senate chamber after the U.S. Capitol was breached by a mob during a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Multiple pro-Trump rioters climb up the walls of the U.S. Capitol while others congregate nearby. — Trump supporters climb up the U.S. Capitol’s walls. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith

A noose hangs outside the Capitol building. Pro-Trump demonstrators congregate nearby. — A noose hangs outside the U.S. Capitol. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

Multiple maskless and masked Trump supporters gather inside the Capitol Building. Capitol Police officers engage with them. — A Capitol police officer engages with a man wearing a QAnon T-shirt inside the U.S. Capitol Building. Win McNamee/Getty Images

A Trump supporter wears a gas mask near another supporter in an American flag costume mask. Gas is in the air around them. — A man in a gas mask in Washington, D.C. Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Members of Congress wear plastic hoods as they take cover in the U.S. Capitol. They are being escorted by Capitol police officers. — Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., and other members take cover as supporters of Trump storm the Capitol. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc.

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather in front of the U.S. Capitol building. REUTERS/Leah Millis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man in a baseball cap sits with his left foot up on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's desk. — Richard Barnett sits inside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on January 6, 2021. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

A note written in red ink on a manila folder on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's desk. It says "We will not back down." — A note left in the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

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