Matt Coleman, Brian Hodge react to Capitol violence

Both chambers of Congress abruptly recessed as they were debating the Electoral College vote that gave Joe Biden the presidency, evacuating the building on Wednesday in Washington.

Former Wagga resident Brian Hodge, who currently lives in West Hollywood, said he is still processing what happened. He explained that there had been instability and rising tensions for long, but he did not foresee this.

"Under the current administration, we don't necessarily feel surprised when things happen," Mr Hodge said.

"But yesterday was truly a shock. No one really thought it would get to the point where not only the administration would encourage it but let that action happen."

Growing up in Australia, Mr Hodge said it's fascinating to see how people in the US assign part of their identity to the party they choose.

"You have to be either a Republican or a Democrat," he said. "That is what creates the divide. I think the focus needs to be on how best to help our country and the party that will do that is the party that should get your vote."

Mr Hodge said it felt like with the end of 2021 the country was looking to the new year with hope. But, the events in Washington felt like "being punched in the guts".

"We are being attacked internally," he said.

Wagga man Matt Coleman, who now lives in Los Angeles County, said the past few days had been "crazy and out of this world".

"I have been following the politics, as much as the world has, and as an immigrant, the difference between Australian and American politics is astounding," he said. "The country is so divided.

"Watching the leadup to yesterday's meeting, I kept thinking something is bound to happen and that this smells of danger. I am gobsmacked and bewildered that they didn't have a contingency plan in place."

Mr Coleman said a "dark joke" is running around saying it's harder to get into Trader Joe's to buy groceries than it is to break into the Capitol.

"If you are a person wielding a gun and storming a government building, then you are a domestic terrorist," Mr Coleman added. "The aftermath today is a country in disbelief of what happened."

President-elect Joe Biden denounced the rioters who stormed the US Capitol as "domestic terrorists" and blaming President Trump for the violence.

Mr Coleman is not yet an American citizen, meaning he did not have the right to vote in the most recent election. While that made him feel "helpless", he decided to help another way.

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"I made sure that everyone I spoke to knew of their right to vote," he said. "I am obligated to help democracy here in America because the decision will affect me."

Mr Coleman believes that President Trump should be impeached because even though he only has two weeks left, "it's very dangerous territory".

"Hopefully once Biden and Harris take over, this country can heal a bit," he said.

President Trump's spokeswoman condemned the violence at the Capitol as un-American and called for those who broke the law to be prosecuted.

The President, temporarily blocked from using Twitter and banned from Facebook for at least two weeks, made no public appearances on Thursday.