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QAnon in chaos after peaceful inauguration, Donald Trump dubbed 'total failure' as many say 'we all got played'

A handful of MAGA supporters were seen on the streets waiting for the 'storm' while right-wing supporters expressed frustration on online platforms

Many had feared that after the January 6 violence at the Capitol, supporters of Donald Trump would create an even bigger disturbance on inauguration day. With the former president refusing to concede defeat and alleging that the November election was compromised, his supporters and loyalists vowed to not let it go without a fight. Reports that the January 6 riot involved former and current members of the armed forces and law enforcement added more to the anxiety over a smooth conduct of the inauguration ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The DC, besides the state capitals, saw a thick blanket of security as the swearing-in advanced. 

But nothing sinister materialized on D-Day as Biden was peacefully sworn in as the commander-in-chief. QAnon conspiracy theorists who sympathize with Trump instead took to right-wing online chat groups to express disappointment and self-doubt. QAnon followers believe that Trump was fighting a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles and hoped that top Democrats would be arrested on charges of sex-trafficking on Inauguration Day. Trump was expected to bring down the Deep State but nothing of that sort happened and the former president left the White House hours before Biden was roped in. 

'We all got played'

Some members of the far-right Proud Boys even went to the extent of doubting Trump on the chat platforms and message boards, calling him a “total failure” and “extraordinarily weak”. Some QAnon followers questioned where the “storm” was and said that they “all got played”.

Ron Watkins, who worked as the administrator of QAnon’s preferred message board 8kun before stepping down before the election, urged the followers to return back to their lives. “We gave it our all. Now we need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able,” he said, adding: “We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics or details regarding officials who are sworn in.”

He also said: “As we enter the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years.”

Others also said this was a wake-up call and that it was over. Another wrote: “Well I'm the official laughing stock of my family now. Awesome.” Yet another message expressing disappointment read: “Where was Trump? Where is the military? Where was the insurrection act? What about his EO's? I'm losing my shit right now. Absolutely losing my shit.”

Meanwhile, the pro-Trump storm that was expected on Biden’s inauguration day proved to be a damp squib. Mark Leggiero was seen standing outside the New York state Capitol as the sole MAGA supporter waving a Trump flag, disappointed that nobody else turned up. Similar scenes were witnessed outside the state Capitol buildings in Utah and Arizona, marking a stark contrast to what was seen outside the Capitol Hill in DC on January 6. 

"I was coming out to hopefully join a bunch of peaceful protesters in supporting the cause, that is almost a lost cause now, unfortunately, I'm sad to say," Local news outlet The Recorder quoted him as saying. 

The political polarization which has been growing in the US over the years exploded on January 6 when the Capitol was stormed by Trump’s supporters who challenged Biden’s victory. The Republican leader was accused of inciting violence and was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House for the second time in 13 months. Major social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook banned him from their platforms as a result. 

Security was stepped up at the Capitol following the riot that killed five and the Secret Service locked down the national capital with more than 25,000 National Guard troops to quell likely violence on inauguration day. Even the NG troops were vetted to ensure that no extremist elements remained within the security providers that were assigned the task to secure the top civilian leadership.