Trump’s video message to violent Capitol mob didn’t actually assist

As chaotic and violent scenes unfolded on the US Capitol following the hasty evacuation of lawmakers from the Home and Senate flooring, Republicans pleaded with President Donald Trump to inform his rebel supporters to face down.

On CNN, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) mentioned, “I’ve not seen something like this since I deployed to Iraq … The president must name it off. Name it off. It’s over. The election is over.”

Gallagher’s sentiment was echoed by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), who informed CNN that Trump’s tweets calling for his supporters to chorus from violence weren’t sufficient.

“He wants to face up and say, ‘I misplaced the election,’” Kinzinger mentioned.

Trump, nonetheless, has to date refused to take action. At 4:17 pm ET, he posted on Twitter a pretaped video message during which he reiterated among the incendiary lies concerning the election that helped radicalize his followers within the first place.

“We had an election that was stolen from us. … This was a fraudulent election,” Trump lied, earlier than calling on the mob to “go residence in peace.”

“We love you. You’re very particular. … I understand how you are feeling,” Trump mentioned.

A Trump-supporting mob rushed the Capitol shortly after the president delivered an offended speech close to the White Home round midday, during which he known as on the group to “stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue” and put strain on Republicans — together with Gallagher and Kinzinger — who deliberate to certify outcomes stating that President-elect Joe Biden gained the 2020 election.

“You’ll by no means take again our nation with weak spot. It’s important to present energy,” Trump mentioned.

The president’s speech was the final in a collection of speeches Wednesday during which Trumpworld luminaries poured gas on the hearth. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) started the day by saying, “As we speak is the day American patriots begin taking down names and kicking ass!” Rudy Giuliani adopted that up by calling for a “trial by fight.”

However because the Capitol was invaded and information broke that no less than one girl had been shot and critically injured, Giuliani and others who’ve inspired this type of excessive habits within the president’s supporters, together with Donald Trump Jr., immediately modified their tune and known as for calm.

As did Republicans corresponding to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who repeatedly refused to refute Trump’s false claims that Biden misplaced the election and who did little to discourage Trump’s excessive rhetoric and that of his allies.

“I help peaceable protests however not violence and destruction,” Graham tweeted. “Folks want to depart the Capitol now!”

Simply forward of Four pm ET, Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer launched a press release demanding that Trump inform the group to depart the Capitol. However as of publication time, that hasn’t occurred. As a substitute, Trump was watching the chaos on TV, Jim Acosta of CNN reported.

The president has performed little to cease his supporters. Following his speech, Trump returned to the White Home and fired off a tweet blasting Vice President Mike Pence for not having the “braveness” to attempt to overthrow the Electoral Faculty end result. Shortly earlier than Biden appeared on tv to plead for an finish to the rioting, Trump adopted up his Pence tweet with an Orwellian missive during which he known as for his supporters to “stay peaceable,” including, “WE are the Occasion of Regulation & Order.”

Shortly after Four pm, Biden gave a speech during which he known as for Trump “to go on nationwide tv now to satisfy his oath and defend the Structure and demand an finish to this siege.”

“The phrases of a president matter, regardless of how good or dangerous that president is,” Biden added.

However as an alternative of heeding calls from Biden and others to talk out forcefully within the hope of ending the violence and chaos, Trump posted a video legitimizing the mob’s considerations.