WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump first acknowledged his defeat in the November 3 election and announced that there would be an “orderly transition on January 20” after Congress completed counting electoral votes on Thursday, certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
Trump’s recognition came after a day of chaos and destruction at the Capitol, when a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol building and unleashed scenes of unprecedented chaos as he tried to interrupt the peaceful transition of power. Members of Congress were forced into hiding, offices were looted and the formal counting of Congress was interrupted for more than six hours.
“Although I totally disagree with the election result and the facts confirm it, there will be an orderly transition on January 20,” Trump said in a statement posted on Twitter by his social media director. His own account was blocked by the company for posting messages that seemed to justify the attack on the country’s democratic headquarters.
Trump added: “While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it is only the beginning of our struggle to make America great again!”
The statement was the first time Trump formally acknowledged his loss after spending the past two months refusing to give in and making baseless accusations. of widespread electoral fraud, although its own Department of Justice, federal courts and state governments have repeatedly said the vote was conducted in a free and fair manner.
Trump’s refusal to accept reality and his incendiary rhetoric reached a critical point on Wednesday, when his supporters violently occupied the Capitol in one of the most shocking scenes never to unfold into a seat of American political power. Authorities said four people died during the violence, including a woman who was shot by a police officer outside the Chamber’s chamber.
Trump encouraged his supporters to march on Capitol Hill to protest the actions of lawmakers and later appeared to condone the violent occupation of the crowd, which forced its way in and clashed with the police.
“These are the things and events that happen when an overwhelming and sacred electoral victory is so unceremoniously and cruelly withdrawn from great patriots who have been ill and unfairly treated for so long,” wrote Trump in a message that was later deleted on Twitter. He added: “Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever! “
Trump’s response to the violence underscored his months-long obsession with trying to overturn the election results. He spent the last days of his presidency scolding and attacking Republicans for their disloyalty, while refusing to acknowledge his loss or give in.
Trump’s statement could not be posted to his Twitter or Facebook feeds because both accounts were blocked.
Trump spent much of Wednesday afternoon watching the uprising on television from his private dining room in the Oval Office. But in addition to saving appeals for calm issued at the insistence of his team, he was totally uninterested. Instead, a White House official said, most of Trump’s attention was consumed by his ire at Vice President Mike Pence, who defied Trump’s demands for recognizing that he didn’t have the power to choose the next president in a non-literal way. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke only on condition of anonymity.
Trump reluctantly tweeted and recorded a video encouraging an end to the violence. The posts were made at the team’s insistence and amid growing criticism from Republican lawmakers who urged him to condemn the violence perpetrated on his behalf, according to the official.
And even as authorities struggled to take control of the Capitol after the protesters overpowered the police, Trump continued to make unfounded accusations of mass electoral fraud and praised his supporters as “very special”.
“I know your pain. I know you are hurt. But you have to go home now, ”he said in a video posted more than 90 minutes after lawmakers were evacuated from the House and Senate chambers. “We cannot play these people’s game. We need to have peace. Then go home. We love you. You are very special. “
The violence, coupled with the president’s lukewarm response, alarmed many in the White House and seemed to push Republican allies to the breaking point after years of loyalty to Trump. After four years with no shortage of tense moments, Wednesday’s events quickly emerged as the morale nadir at Trump’s White House, while advisers stared in horror at the Capitol chaos that Trump had fostered.
Several White House advisers were discussing a possible massive resignation, according to people familiar with the conversation. And others left quickly.
Stephanie Grisham, chief of staff to the first lady and former press secretary of the White House, presented her resignation on Wednesday. Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, White House social secretary Rickie Niceta and deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews also resigned, officials said. More departures are expected in the coming days, officials said.
Other advisers indicated that they planned to stay to help smooth the transition to the Biden government. And some nurtured concerns about what Trump might do in his last two weeks on the job if they weren’t there to serve as a handrail when so few remained.
Trump’s reluctant statement acknowledging defeat came even after longtime allies suggested whether his cabinet members should invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie told ABC on Wednesday that “responsible cabinet members” should be thinking about fulfilling his oath of office, adding that Trump “violated his oath and betrayed the American people” .
Conversations about the removal took place between administration advisers and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to people involved in the deliberations, but there did not appear to be a serious discussion about this by his office, from whom most would have to vote to remove him.
Trump has focused exclusively on his electoral defeat since election day, advisers said, at the expense of other responsibilities in his office, including the fight against the violent coronavirus. In fact, it was Pence, not Trump, who spoke to the interim defense secretary to discuss the mobilization of the DC National Guard on Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, Trump effectively banned Pence’s chief of staff, Marc Short, of the White House, an official said, believing he was the driving force behind Pence’s refusal to nullify the vote.
Hours earlier, Trump had appeared at a massive rally near the White House, where he continued to urge supporters to fight the election results and encouraged them to march to the Capitol in comments that were spiced with incendiary language and filled with violent tones. At one point, he even suggested he could join them – a perspective that was discussed by the White House, but ended up being abandoned.
“We are going to Capitol,” he said. “We will try to give our Republicans … the kind of pride and boldness they need to retake our country.”
At the beginning of the demonstration, his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, had defended what he called “trial by combat”.
As the violence escalated, Republican lawmakers and former government officials pleaded with Trump to tell his supporters to leave.