WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump acknowledged his defeat in the November 3 election for the first time and announced that there will be an “orderly transition on January 20” after Congress completes the counting of votes early Thursday confirming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Trump’s recognition comes after a day of chaos and destruction on Capitol Hill when a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol building and unleashed unprecedented scenes of chaos as it tried to thwart the peaceful transition of power. Members of Congress were forced to hide, offices were looted and the formal congress was suspended for more than six hours.
“Although I completely disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts confirm me, there will be an orderly transition on January 20,” Trump said in a statement posted by his social media director on Twitter. The company closed its own account because it posted messages justifying the assault on the seat of the country’s democracy.
Trump added: “While this is the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it is only the beginning of our struggle to make America great again!”
The statement was the first time Trump has formally acknowledged his loss after refusing to concede and make unfounded allegations over the past two months. of widespread voter fraud, although his own department of justice, federal courts and state governments has repeatedly said the vote was conducted freely and fairly.
Trump’s refusal to accept reality and his offensive rhetoric reached a breaking point on Wednesday when his supporters violently occupied the Capitol in one of the most terrifying scenes. to ever unfold in a seat of American political power. According to authorities, four people were killed during the violence, including one woman who was shot outside the living room by an officer.
Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol to protest the actions of lawmakers, and later apparently excused the violent occupation of the mob, which infiltrated him and clashed with police.
“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred, overwhelming election victory is so unceremoniously and maliciously carried away from great patriots who have been treated badly and unfairly for so long,” Trump wrote in a message later removed by Twitter. He added: ‘Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever! ”
Trump’s response to the violence underscores his months-long obsession with trying to overthrow the election result. He spent the last days of his presidency furious with the Republicans and spat out alleged infidelity, while refusing to acknowledge or concede his loss.
Trump’s statement could not be posted on his Twitter or Facebook feeds because both accounts were blocked from posting.
Trump watched much of the uprising on television from his private dining room outside the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. But apart from the fact that at the insistence of his staff he did not call for calm, he was largely disconnected. Instead, a White House official said, most of Trump’s attention was consumed by his anger at Vice President Mike Pence, who challenged Trump’s demands. by acknowledging that he does not have the power to literally elect the next president. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke only on the condition of anonymity.
Trump just reluctantly issued the tweets and recorded a video encouraging the end of the violence. According to the official, the persons came at the insistence of the staff and amid increasing criticism from the Republican legislators requesting him to condemn the violence.
And even as authorities struggled to take control of Capitol Hill after protesters overwhelmed police, Trump still raised unsubstantiated allegations of mass voter fraud, praising his loyalists as “very special.”
“I know your pain. I know you hurt. But you have to go home now, ‘he said in a video posted more than 90 minutes after lawmakers were evacuated from the chamber and the Senate. “We can not play into the hands of these people. We must have peace. So go home. We love you. You are very special. ‘
The violence, coupled with the president’s lukewarm response, shocked many in the White House and apparently pushed Republican allies to the breaking point after years of loyalty to Trump. After four years without a lack of charged moments, Wednesday’s events quickly emerged as the moral of the morale in the Trump White House, while assistants watched in horror as the chaos at the Capitol spurred Trump on.
According to people familiar with the conversation, a number of White House staffers discussed a possible mass resignation. And others left quickly.
Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff of the first lady and a former press secretary of the White House, submitted her resignation on Wednesday. Deputy National Adviser Matt Pottinger, White House Social Secretary Rickie Niceta, and Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews also resigned, officials said. More departures are expected in the coming days, officials said.
Other assistants have indicated they plan to stay to help ease the transition to the Biden administration. And some have raised concerns about what Trump could do in his last two weeks in office if they were not there to serve as wagrails if so little remains.
Trump’s deplorable statement that he acknowledged the defeat comes after even years of allies hovered or members of his cabinet had to call for the 25th amendment and remove him from office. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told ABC late Wednesday that “responsible cabinet members” should consider fulfilling their oath of office, adding that Trump “violates his oath and betrays the American people.”
According to people involved in the deliberations, talks on removal took place among assistants to the government and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, but there was apparently no serious discussion by his cabinet, of which a majority would have to vote for him. to make. .
Trump has been stubbornly concentrating on his election defeat since election day, at the expense of the other responsibilities of his office, including the fight against the raging coronavirus. It was indeed Pence, not Trump, who spoke to the acting secretary of defense on Wednesday afternoon to mobilize the DC National Guard.
On Wednesday, Trump effectively banned Pence chief of staff Marc Short from the White House, an official said he believes is the driving force behind Pence’s refusal to overturn the vote.
Hours earlier, Trump had appeared at a massive rally near the White House, where he continued to urge supporters to fight the election results and encouraged them to march to the Capitol in remarks peppered with arson and full of violent undertones. At one point, he even suggested that he join them – a prospect discussed by the White House but eventually abandoned.
“We’re going to the Capitol,” he said. “We are going to try to give our Republicans … the pride and boldness they need to take back our country.”
Earlier in the protest, his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, advocated what he called “trial by fight”.
As the violence raged, Republican lawmakers and former government officials begged Trump to tell his supporters to resign.