In a video message on Thursday night, President Donald Trump criticised the storming of the U.S. Capitol which took place after he aided his angry supporters to take action and said he would prepare for the administration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Trump condemned the act by saying that the demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. People engaging in acts of violence and destruction do not represent our country. He even said people who broke the law will pay for their actions.
The video was followed by the resignation from his administration and calls from top congressional Democrats, former White House aides, business leaders, and even the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal for Trump’s removal from office over his role in encouraging the insurgence. Impeachment was also discussed by the members of Congress.
Before Trump’s supporters entered the Capitol, by crossing the police barricades and breaking into the building, Trump, in a fiery address at midday Wednesday, exhorted them to “stop the steal” and make a stand for his presidency. He incited the mob by claiming voter fraud even when both the Congress houses were preparing to certify Biden’s victory in the Electoral College vote.
However, on Thursday, Donald Trump vouched for “healing and reconciliation” and said that he would turn his focus to ensure smooth, orderly and seem less transition of power.
Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker and Chuck Schuner, Senate Democratic Leader said Pence and the Trump cabinet should invoke the Constitution’s 25th Amendment, which provides an avenue for the president to be removed. Pence hasn’t responded, and Democrats floated impeachment proceedings as an alternative.
In his video, he condemned violence without showing solidarity with his supporters or claiming false charges of election fraud. He further said, he would ‘never concede’ an election that he falsely claimed had been stolen. The President was however slow to react and call for his supporters to withdraw from the Capitol, even though congressional offices were plundered and law enforcement officers were attacked.
Despite a lot of tension going on in the administration, many members of his inner circle indicated on Thursday that they planned to serve out the rest two weeks of his term.