AP
Washington Hispanic:
President Donald Trump first acknowledged his defeat in the November 3 elections and announced that there would be an “orderly transition on 20 January »after Congress concluded electoral scrutiny early Thursday certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
Trump’s recognition came after a day of chaos and destruction on Capitol Hill when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol and unleashed unprecedented scenes of chaos as he tried to stop the peaceful transition of power. Members of Congress were forced into hiding, offices were ransacked and the formal count of Congress was halted for more than six hours.
«Although I totally disagree with the result of the elections, and the facts support me, however there will be an orderly transition on 20 January “, said Trump in a statement posted on Twitter by his director of social networks . His own account had been blocked by the company for posting messages that seemed to justify the assault on the seat of the nation’s democracy.
Trump added: “Although this represents the end of the first largest term in presidential history, it is only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again! ”
The statement was the first time that Trump formally acknowledged his loss after spending the past two months refusing to grant and dismiss unsubstantiated allegations alleging widespread voter fraud, despite his own Justice Department , federal courts and state governments have repeatedly said that the vote was conducted freely and fairly.
Trump’s refusal to accept reality and his incendiary rhetoric came to a head breaking point on Wednesday when his supporters occupied saw slowly the Capitol in one of the most disturbing scenes to have unfolded in a seat of American political power. Authorities said four people died during the violence, including a woman who was shot by an officer outside the House chamber.
Trump had encouraged his supporters to march in the Capitol to protest against the actions of the legislators, and later seemed to excuse the violent occupation of the mob, who forced their way inside and clashed with the police.
«These they are the things and events that occur when a sacred electoral victory is so carelessly and viciously stripped of great patriots that they have been mistreated and unfairly treated for so long, “Trump wrote in a message that was later removed by Twitter. He added: “Go home with love and in peace. Remember this day forever! ”
Trump’s response to the violence underscored his months-long obsession with trying to overturn the election results. He has spent the last days of his presidency stewing and lashing out at Republicans for perceived dismay while refusing to acknowledge their loss or concede.
Trump’s statement could not be published in his Twitter or Facebook feeds because both accounts had been blocked from posting.
Trump spent much of Wednesday afternoon watching the insurrection on television from his private dining room in front of the Office Oval. But aside from avoiding appeals for calm issued at the insistence of his staff, he was largely disengaged. Instead, a White House official said, most of Trump’s attention was consumed by his going to Vice President Mike Pence, who defied Trump’s demands by acknowledging that he did not have the power to freely elect the next president. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke only on the condition of anonymity.
Trump only reluctantly posted the tweets and recorded a video encouraging an end to the violence. The positions were presented at the insistence of the staff and amid growing criticism from Republican lawmakers urging him to condemn the violence that was perpetrated in his name, according to the official.
And even as As authorities struggled to seize control of Capitol Hill after protesters overwhelmed police, Trump continued to not level groundless allegations of mass voter fraud, and praised his loyalists as “very special.”
«I know your pain. I know your pain. But you have to go home now, “he said in a video posted more than 90 minutes after lawmakers were evacuated from the House and Senate chambers. “We cannot play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You are very special. ”
The violence, coupled with the president’s lukewarm response, alarmed many in the White House and seemed to push Republican allies to breaking point after years loyalty to Trump. After four years of no shortage of tough times, Wednesday’s events quickly emerged as the nadir of morale in the Trump White House, as attendees watched in horror at the chaos on Capitol Hill that Trump had fostered.
Several White House aides were discussing a possible mass resignation, according to people familiar with the conversation. And others left quickly.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s chief of staff and former White House press secretary, resigned Wednesday. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger, White House Social Secretary Rickie Niceta and Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews also resigned, according to officials. More departures were expected in the coming days, officials said.
Other advisers indicated they planned to stay to help smooth the transition to the Biden administration. And some harbored concerns about what Trump might do in his last two weeks in office if they weren’t there to serve as guardrails when so few remain.
Trump’s grudging statement He acknowledged defeat even after longtime allies floated if his cabinet members were to invoke the 25 Amendment and remove him from office. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie told ABC late Wednesday that “the responsible members of the Cabinet” should be considering fulfilling their oath of office, adding that Trump had “violated his oath and betrayed the American people.”
Trump has focused on his electoral defeat since Election Day, attendees said, at the expense of the other responsibilities of his office, including fighting the raging coronavirus. In fact, it was Pence, not Trump, who spoke to the Acting Secretary of Defense to discuss the mobilization of the DC National Guard on Wednesday afternoon.
Hours earlier, Trump had appeared at a mass rally near the White House, where he continued to urge supporters to fight the election results and encouraged them to march to Capitol Hill in comments that were peppered with inflammatory language and riddled with violent undertones. At one point, he even suggested that he could join them, a prospect that was discussed by the White House but was eventually abandoned.
“Let’s go to the Capitol,” he said. “We are going to try to give our Republicans… the kind of pride and audacity they need to take back our country.
Earlier at the rally, their lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, had defended what which he had called a “trial by combat.”
As the violence raged, Republican lawmakers and former administration officials had pleaded with Trump to tell his supporters that