Andrew Shurtleff / Associated Press
Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski spoke on Saturday against the pro-Donald Trump crowd that stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on Wednesday.
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports tweeted Coach K’s statement on the matter:
Krzyzewski called it a “horrible day” and “an insurrection” before adding: “It was for the very structure of this great country, where the symbol of our democracy is the Capitol, and we allowed that symbol to be really just spit on and stepped on. “
On Wednesday, a pro-Trump crowd stormed the Capitol while the election of Trump’s democratic rival, Joe Biden, as U.S. president was being confirmed. Per CNBC, Washington police reported that more than 50 officers were injured and four people died in the violence.
After the violation of the Capitol, Trump released a video in which he called the crowd to go home, but also called them “very special” and said “we love you”, while continuing to claim that the election was rigged. Attorney General William Barr told the Associated Press in early December that no evidence of widespread electoral fraud was found.
Trump finally admitted defeat in the early hours of Thursday morning, saying in a statement: “A new administration will open on January 20. My focus now is on ensuring a smooth, orderly and continuous transition of power.”
Krzyzewski, 73, who played college basketball for the Army at West Point in the 1960s and later trained the Army before moving to the Duke, criticized Trump in the past.
In 2017, Coach K told Trump “must realize that he is responsible for all people. “