President Trump released a video late on Wednesday denouncing last week’s riots at the United States Capitol and declaring that no real supporter of him could support political violence.
“The violence of the crowd goes against everything I believe in and everything that our movement represents,” Trump said in a message from the Oval Office.
“No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence,” said Trump. “No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect the forces of law or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass his fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you will not be supporting our movement. You are attacking and you are attacking our country. We cannot tolerate that. “
His comments were posted on Twitter at the White House just hours after 10 House Republicans joined Democrats in impeaching the president. Trump’s personal account has been banned by Twitter.
TRUMP HAS NO FUTURE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AFTER THE CAPITOL Riot: REP. NANCY MACE
Both Democrats and Republicans suggested that Trump incited violence with statements he made before the turmoil.
In her resignation letter, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told Trump: “There is no doubt about the impact that your rhetoric has had on the situation, it is the tipping point for me.”
“The President of the United States has summoned this mob, gathered the mob and lit the flame for this attack,” said Wyoming GOP conference chairman Liz Cheney in a statement explaining his support for the impeachment. Others, such as the minority leader in the House, Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Warned that the impeachment of the president would further divide the country at an already difficult time.
Although Trump generally called for peaceful protests, the attacks followed shortly after he spoke of Ellipse near the White House, telling a crowd of supporters to continue to challenge the results of the 2020 elections that gave President-elect Joe Biden victory and lead this fight for the capital.
“I know that everyone here will soon be marching to the Capitol building to make their voices heard in a peaceful and patriotic way,” he said.
The protesters could be seen wearing pro-Trump banners. At least five people died from the disturbances.
A few days before Biden’s inauguration, scheduled for January 20, the FBI reportedly warned that armed protests were planned in all 50 state capitals.
“In light of reports of further demonstrations, I insist that there should be NO violence, NO violations of the law and NOT vandalism of any kind,” Trump told Fox News on Wednesday.
“This is not what I stand for and it is not what the United States stands for. I appeal to ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank you.”
He noted that federal agencies were targeted to prevent violence while thousands of members of the National Guard were called in to protect the country’s capital and “ensure that a transition can proceed safely and without incident”.
Trump’s video also urged followers and big tech companies to avoid igniting the tensions that have dominated Americans in the last days of his term.
After last week’s events, a long list of social media platforms banned the president.
Twitter specifically banned him after he said about the riot: “These are the things and events that happen when an overwhelming and sacred electoral victory is so unceremoniously and cruelly taken from great patriots who have been treated badly and unfairly for so long. Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever! “
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The social media giant also said it removed more than 70,000 accounts linked to QAnon while Facebook blocked content with the phrase “Stop the theft”.
Amazon stopped hosting Parler, a right-wing alternative to Twitter. Parler was also removed from Apple stores and Google Play.
“Efforts to censor, cancel and blacklist our fellow citizens are wrong and dangerous,” said Trump. “What is needed now is to listen to each other, not to be silent.”
Fox News’ Brooke Singman contributed to this report.