Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a burning rebuke of Donald Trump on Sunday, and compares the riot at the American Capitol that incited the president to Kristallnacht, the night in November 1938 when Nazi thugs attacked Jewish Germans and their property, a harbinger of horrors to come.
He also compares American democracy to a weapon he used on screen almost 40 years ago as Conan the Barbarian, saying: ‘Our democracy is like the steel of this sword. The more it is tempered, the stronger it becomes. ”
In a video posted on social media The 73-year-old former Republican governor of California said he “would like to say a few words to my fellow Americans and to our friends around the world about the events of recent days.”
“I grew up in Austria and was very aware of the Kristallnacht, or the night of broken glass,” he said. ‘It was a night of rioting against the Jews that was carried out [by] the Nazi equivalent of the Proud Boys [a quasi-fascist group of Trump supporters]. ”
‘Wednesday was the day of broken glass here in the United States. The broken glass was in the windows of the American Capitol. But the mob did not just smash the windows of the Capitol. It shattered the ideals we take for granted. They not only broke down the doors of the building that housed American democracy. They have trampled on the principles on which our country was founded. ”
Five people were killed as a result of the attack at the Capitol, one that a police officer allegedly hit with a fire extinguisher and one a riotous shooter by law enforcement. On Sunday, another officer was reported dead, though it was not immediately clear whether the death was related to the Capitol riot.
Trump resigned on January 20 after failing to say his election defeat by Joe Biden, who was the case, that he had to “fight the crowd like hell.” He faces calls to resign and a possible second accusation.
Schwarzenegger describes a traumatic childhood in post-war Austria, the son of a former Nazi party member.
“I saw first-hand how things can get out of hand,” he said. “I know there is a fear in this country and around the world that something like this could happen here. I do not believe it is.
‘But I believe we need to be aware of the serious consequences of selfishness and cynicism. President Trump has tried to overturn the outcome of an election. And a fair election. He sought a coup by deceiving people with lies. My father and our neighbors were also deceived with lies. I know where such lies lead.
“President Trump is a failed leader. He will rise in history as the worst president ever. The good thing is, he’ll soon be as irrelevant as an old tweet. ”
Schwarzenegger appealed to Americans’ patriotism and praised lawmakers who reconvened after the Capitol attack to confirm Joe Biden’s victory, despite objections from 147 Republican representatives and senators.
He then picks up a sword that he says was used when he played Conan the Barbarian in some fantasy films from the early 80’s.
“Here’s the thing about swords,” he said. ‘The more you temper a sword, the stronger it becomes. The more you pound it with a hammer and then heat it in the fire, and then push it into the cold water and then pound it again … the more often you do it, the stronger it gets.
‘I’m not saying this to you because you’re becoming an expert swordsman. But our democracy is like the steel of this sword. The more it is tempered, the stronger it becomes. ”
Finally, wishing Biden well, Schwarzenegger said: “Those who think they can destroy the American Constitution know this. You will never win. ”
Trump was banned, with no official duties for the day, and with the White House pool reporter sent home before noon, Trump did not immediately respond.