The Informer: What next? A 15-day state of emergency

Well, that's a given. It was an utterly unforgettable day in the US capital.

Just don't expect to see those words in the original Donald Trump tweet as he been banned from the site after today's events in Washington DC. Banned for all of 12 hours, mind you. Double that on Facebook.

Regardless, it's hardly the most sensational talking point to come out of what was a head-shakingly shocking day in Washington DC.

The National Guard was called in to restore order after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. They did in fact manage to disrupt the electoral count but their actions only served to reinforce Congress' resolve to certify the November result.

Yet even now, that has not happened and debate is continuing deep into the US night.

Many hours ago now, Mr Trump appeared at a rally near the White House, and urged supporters to fight the election results. He encouraged them to march to the Capitol and even, for a moment, suggested he'd join them. No surprise that did not come to fruition.

They did indeed march. They also scaled walls, and smashed windows, occupied offices, and helped themselves to "souvenirs" - all the while most of them being eminently identifiable. Though it is to be noted some did wear face masks.

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert J. Contee has explained that four people died on the US Capitol grounds - one died from a gunshot wound, three others as a result of "medical reasons" - and 14 police officers were injured. Officials have said 52 people were arrested.

Condemnation has been pretty much universal: from Mr Trump's own party, to a US business group representing 14,000 companies, to former Presidents and world leaders.

Already US lawmakers have vowed to investigate just how such a massive security breach seemed to happen almost effortlessly. Way back on December 19, the President tweeted about January 6 being "wild" so it's not as if there was no inkling of potential problems.

And in the hope of preventing further mayhem, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has laid her cards on the table. Her initial response was a 6pm-6am curfew. She now has extended the city's state of public emergency by 15 days.

For the US, the countdown now begins in earnest. But in the back of everyone's minds is "what else?"; what next-level chaos can the 45th President orchestrate in those 15 days before President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20?

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