Shortly after the House accused him of inciting an insurrection against the United States government, President Trump issued a videotaped statement on Wednesday condemning the violent siege of the Capitol last week and asking his supporters not to revolt again as President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. prepares to take office.
In the video, released on YouTube and @WhiteHouse On Twitter, Trump did not admit that he had lost to Biden in a free and fair election, nor did he mention the name of the president-elect, although he used his strongest language to reject the violence carried out in his name.
“I want to be very clear: I unequivocally condemn the violence we saw last week,” said Trump. “Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country and nowhere in our movement. Making America Great Again has always been a matter of upholding the rule of law ”and supporting law enforcement officials, said Trump.
Security experts and police have warned that several far-right groups have threatened demonstrations or attacks next week.
Mr. Trump said he was briefed by the Secret Service on the potential threats and instructed federal agencies to use all necessary resources to maintain order and ensure that “a transition can proceed safely and without incident”.
The video showed an abrupt change in Trump’s tone compared to the video he posted on Twitter in the midst of violence last week, in which he offered rioters a guarantee instead of condemnation. In that video, he repeated his false claims about a stolen election that they invoked as a justification. In saying, “We need peace” and urging them to go home, he added: “We love you; you are very special. “
Trump was heavily criticized for his role in inciting last week’s violence, in which a crowd of his supporters invaded the Capitol and threatened the lives of members of Congress and their vice president after the president spoke at a previous rally.
On Tuesday, Trump showed no regret or regret for instigating the crowd, saying his comments to his supporters were “entirely appropriate”.
On Wednesday, while the House debated an impeachment article that accused him of “inciting insurrection,” Trump issued a written statement urging Americans to “ease tensions and calm tempers”.
Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, read the statement on the floor of the House during the impeachment debate.
Just before Trump’s statement was released, California representative Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader, spoke on the floor of the House, blaming Trump for the attack.
“These facts call for immediate action by President Trump,” said McCarthy, who does not support impeachment and voted last week to overturn the election results. “Accept your share of responsibility. Stop the growing unrest. And to ensure that President-elect Biden can start his term successfully. “
Ronna McDaniel, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, asked people with “malicious intent” to stay away from Washington or state capitals.
“The peaceful transition of power is one of the fundamental principles of our nation and it is necessary for it to move forward,” McDaniel said in a statement.