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Donald Trump has conceded defeat to Joe Biden for the first time, a day after his supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
The president said he was “outraged” by Wednesday’s “heinous” attack, which came as congressional politicians certified Biden’s victory.
A mob overwhelmed police officers and invaded the Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to hide for their own safety.
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How the Capitol Was Attacked: From Its Own People
On Thursday night, the death of a fifth person was confirmed. Brian Sidnick, a United States Capitol Police officer, succumbed to injuries sustained after “physically interacting with protesters.”
The tone of Mr trumpThe latest video, which was uploaded to Twitter, was markedly different from the one uploaded the day before, in which he continued to claim that the election was fraudulent.
Speaking from a podium at the White House, the president emphasized that his priority now is to organize an orderly transition to a new administration, saying that Biden will be sworn in on January 20.
“We must get on with America’s business,” the president said, adding that his campaign “had vigorously pursued all legal avenues to challenge the election results.”
Trump described his four years in office as “the honor of my life,” saying: “To all my wonderful fans, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is just beginning.”
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WH’s press secretary quickly escapes from the podium
In other developments:
• Several Democrats have called for Donald Trump to be removed from office and removed immediately, describing him as a “clear threat to our country and democracy” and a “very dangerous person”
• Vice President Mike Pence has said he is against using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
• President-elect Joe Biden has described those who stormed the United States Capitol as “domestic terrorists” – describing Wednesday’s incident as an “assault on our freedom”
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Biden rebukes Trump and ‘national terrorists’
• Newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, have asked Trump to resign
• The president’s Facebook and Instagram accounts have been suspended “indefinitely,” at least until Biden’s inauguration in 12 days.
• Education Secretary Betsy DeVos became the second cabinet minister to resign, telling Trump: “There is no question about the impact your rhetoric had on the situation.”
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Inside the shattered Capitol building
Shortly before the Trump video was released, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave a short statement in which he described the violence in the United States Capitol as “heinous” and “reprehensible.”
In a speech that lasted less than two minutes, he added: “Those who violently besieged our Capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for.”
Ms. McEnany quickly left the podium without answering questions from reporters.
U.S. Capitol Police detained protesters at gunpoint after they gained access to the Capitol
A Trump supporter held up a Confederate flag as he walked through the building.
The chief of the Police of the Capital of the United States has announced that he will resign on January 16 after the unprecedented security breach.
Steven Sund said the police had planned a free speech demonstration and did not expect the violent attack, which allowed protesters to loot government offices and occupy the building for several hours.
He described the incident as “unlike any I have experienced in my 30 years of law enforcement here in Washington DC.”
A senior federal prosecutor has said that “all options are on the table” to indict members of the violent mob, including charges of sedition.
More than 90 people have been arrested in Washington and more arrests are likely, and officials warned that it could take weeks to build cases against some of the rioters.
Other possible charges for the pro-Trump mob include civil disorder, property destruction and rioting, experts say.
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Before Wednesday’s riots, Trump had told thousands of supporters: “All of us here today do not want emboldened Radical Democrats to steal our election victory.
“We will never give up. We will never give in. It will never happen. You don’t give in when there is a robbery involved. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore.”
Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani also spoke and called for “trial by combat.” Since then, he has described the violence in the capital as “shameful”.
