Hollywood star and former Republican California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was widely praised on Twitter on Sunday after condemning the events of the Capitol rebellion and comparing them to the deadly “Kristallnacht” event in Nazi Germany.
“I grew up in Austria. I am very aware of Kristallnacht, or the Broken Glass Night,” said Schwarzenegger in a nearly eight-minute video posted on Twitter. “It was a night of violence against the Jews in 1938 by the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys.”
“Wednesday was Broken Glass Day right here in the United States,” he added. “The broken glass was in the windows of the United States Capitol. But the crowd not only broke the windows of the Capitol; they destroyed the ideals that we considered to be guaranteed.”
The ex-governor’s message followed Wednesday’s riot that broke out after thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington DC to protest the outcome of the 2020 election while the House of Representatives and the Senate held a joint session to certify the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
Protesters broke down layers of barricades that protected the United States Capitol building. They reached the City Hall, where photos and videos of the event showed them climbing walls, smashing windows and occupying lawmakers’ offices. Five people died in the violence, including a Capitol police officer.
“He attempted a coup by deceiving people with lies,” Schwarzenegger said of Trump in his video. “President Trump is a failed leader. He will go down in history as the worst president of all time.”
Photo by J. Vespa / WireImage via Getty / Getty
Many used Twitter to praise Schwarzenegger’s serious message condemning the violence, as MSNBC presenter Joe Scarborough, who wrote: “I have often found that immigrants appreciate America’s greatness better than many born here.@Schwarzenegger message proves it again. “
“This is great,” said Seth Masket, political scientist and writer for FiveThirtyEight.
“Very well said … as Americans, we will rise. Address the depth of our division and prosper once again!” said Julio A. Portalatin, Director of the AARP Council.
“Powerful and moving,” said former CIA director John O. Brennan. “A serious message that all Americans should applaud.”
Singer John Legend expressed his gratitude to the actor.
Film director Ron Howard tweeted: “well done@Schwarzenegger and thanks for the insights in those wise words. I hope that the leaders and citizens of all political parties will listen and learn ”.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the comments “powerful”.
Schwarzenegger ended his video with a message of hope.
“We need to heal, not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans. And to start this process, no matter what your political affiliation, I asked you to join me saying, ‘President-elect Biden, we wish you great success as our president. If you succeed, our nation will succeed, “” said Schwarzenegger
Newsweek he reached out to Schwarzenegger, but got no response in time for publication.
Updated at 17:25 ET