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u.s. news Diabierna 8 Januari 2021

After excusing violence, Trump acknowledges Biden transition

(AP) — President Donald
Trump for the first time
acknowledged his defeat
in the Nov. 3 election and
announced there would
be an “orderly transition"
on Jan. 20, Inauguration
Day, after Congress con-
cluded the electoral vote
count early Thursday cer-
tifying President-elect Joe
Biden’s victory.

Trump’s acknowledgment
came after a day of chaos
and destruction on Capitol
Hill as a mob of his support-
ers stormed the Capitol and
unleashed unprecedented
scenes of mayhem in hopes
of halting the peaceful tran-
sition of power. Members of
Congress were forced into
hiding, offices were ran-
sacked, and the formal con-
gressional tally of Electoral
College votes was halted for
more than six hours.
“Even though I totally dis-
agree with the outcome of the
election, and the facts bear
me out, nevertheless there
will be an orderly transition
on January 20th,” Trump said
in a statement posted to Twit- events that happen when a to take control of Capitol Hill chief of staff-turned-special edly focused on his electoral
ter by his social media direc- sacred landslide election vic- after protesters overwhelmed envoy to Northern Ireland defeat since Election Day,
tor. Trump's account had tory is so unceremoniously & police, Trump continued to told CNBC Thursday that aides said, at the expense of
been locked by the company viciously stripped away from level baseless allegations of he had called Secretary of the other responsibilities of
for posting messages that ap- great patriots who have been mass voter fraud and praised State Mike Pompeo “to let his office, including the fight
peared to justify the assault badly & unfairly treated for his loyalists as “very special.” him know I was resigning. ... against the raging coronavi-
on the seat of the nation’s de- so long,” Trump wrote in a “I know your pain. I know I can’t do it. I can’t stay.” rus. Indeed, it was Pence, not
mocracy. message that was later delet- your hurt. But you have to go Other aides indicated they Trump, who spoke with the
Trump added, “While this ed by Twitter. He added, “Go home now,” he said in a video planned to stay to help acting defense secretary to
represents the end of the home with love & in peace. posted more than 90 min- smooth the transition to the discuss mobilizing the D.C
greatest first term in presi- Remember this day forever!” utes after lawmakers were Biden administration. Some National Guard on Wednes-
dential history, it’s only the Trump spent much of evacuated from the House harbored concerns about day afternoon.
beginning of our fight to Wednesday afternoon watch- and Senate chambers. “We what Trump might do in his On Wednesday, Trump effec-
Make America Great Again!” ing the insurrection on tele- can’t play into the hands of final two weeks in office if tively banned Pence's chief
The president has spent the vision from his private dining these people. We have to have they were not there to serve of staff, Marc Short, from
past two months refusing to room off the Oval Office. peace. So go home. We love as guardrails when so few re- the White House, an official
concede and making base- But aside from sparing ap- you. You’re very special.” main. said, believing Short to have
less allegations of widespread peals for calm issued at the The violence, coupled with Trump’s begrudging state- been the driving force behind
voter fraud, even though his insistence of his staff, he was the president’s tepid re- ment acknowledging defeat Pence's refusal to overturn
own Justice Department, largely disengaged. sponse, alarmed many in the came after even longtime al- the vote.
federal courts, including the Instead, a White House of- White House and appeared to lies floated whether mem- Hours earlier, Trump had ap-
Supreme Court, and state ficial said, most of Trump’s push Republicans allies to the bers of his Cabinet should peared at a massive rally near
governments have said re- attention was consumed by breaking point after years of invoke the 25th Amendment the White House, where he
peatedly the vote was carried his ire at Vice President Mike allegiance to Trump. A num- and remove him from office. continued to urge support-
out freely and fairly. Pence, who defied Trump's ber of White House aides Former New Jersey Gov. ers to fight the election re-
Trump's refusal to accept re- demands by acknowledging were discussing a potential Chris Christie told ABC late sults and encouraged them
ality and his incendiary rhet- he did not have the power to mass resignation just two Wednesday that “responsible to march to the Capitol in
oric reached a breaking point unliterally reject the electoral weeks before Trump's term members of the Cabinet” remarks that were peppered
Wednesday when loyalists votes that determine the next ends, according to people fa- should be thinking about with incendiary language and
violently occupied the Capi- president. The official was miliar with the conversation fulfilling their oath of office, rife with violent undertones.
tol in one of the most jarring not authorized to discuss the who were not authorized to adding that Trump had “vio- At one point, he even sug-
scenes ever to unfold in the matter publicly and spoke on publicly discuss it and spoke lated his oath and betrayed gested he might join them —
nation's capital. Authorities condition of anonymity. on condition of anonymity. the American people." a prospect that was discussed
said four people died during Trump only reluctantly is- Stephanie Grisham, first lady Conversations about removal by the White House but
the violence, including one sued the tweets and taped a Melania Trump's chief of staff took place among adminis- eventually abandoned.
woman who was shot by an video encouraging an end to and a former White House tration aides and Republican “We’re going to the Capitol,”
officer outside the House the violence. The posts came press secretary, submitted her lawmakers on Capitol Hill, he said. “We’re going to try
chamber. at the insistence of staff and resignation. Deputy national according to people involved and give our Republicans ...
Trump had encouraged his amid mounting criticism security adviser Matt Pot- in the deliberations, but there the kind of pride and bold-
supporters to march on the from Republican lawmakers tinger, White House social did not appear to be serious ness that they need to take
Capitol to protest lawmakers’ begging him to condemn the secretary Rickie Niceta and discussion to do so by his back our country.”
actions, and he later appeared violence and tell his support- deputy press secretary Sarah Cabinet, of whom a majority Earlier in the rally, his lawyer,
to excuse the violent occupa- ers to stand down, according Matthews also resigned, ac- would have to vote to side- Rudy Giuliani, had advocat-
tion by the mob. to the official. cording to officials. Mick line him. ed what he had called “trial
“These are the things and Even as authorities struggled Mulvaney, Trump’s former Trump has been single-mind- by combat.”