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On Thursday, President Donald Trump faced the threat of a second impeachment, one day after his supporters violated the U.S. Capitol in a stunning attack on American democracy as Congress certified the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
As Democratic leaders demanded his ouster, Trump came closer to a formal concession than he ever had, acknowledging that a new administration would be sworn in on Jan. 20 and vowing in a video released on Thursday night to ensure a “smooth transition.”
The president condemned Wednesday’s violence, claiming rioters had defiled the seat of American democracy and must be held accountable.
Trump had told supporters just a day earlier, “We love you.” You are very special,’ as he urged them to go home after the Capitol had been broken into.
“The president said in his remarks on Thursday: “We have just been through an intense election, and the emotions are high, but now the temper must be cooled and restored to calm.
“Trump, a Republican, added, adopting a conciliatory tone rarely seen from the mercurial president, “We have to get on with the business of America.
For Trump, who has spent months insisting that he prevailed in the Nov. 3 election, the statement was a stark reversal, alleging widespread fraud despite no proof. As recently as Thursday morning, Trump was still claiming the election had been stolen when he issued a statement via an aide.
He defended his attempts to challenge the election in court in the video, saying his objective was to “ensure the integrity of the vote.”
But his call on thousands of supporters to march to the Capitol on Wednesday to protest the election results whipped up a mob that overran police officers and invaded the Capitol building, forcing Congress members to hide for their own safety.
The violence claimed four lives, including a woman who was shot by the authorities among the demonstrators. The agency issued a statement saying that they were inaccurate, after reports that a Capitol Police officer had died.
The top Democrats in Congress, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the House of Representatives and Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of the Senate, called on Vice President Mike Pence and Trump’s Cabinet to use the U.S. Constitution to remove Trump for “his insurrectionary incitement.”
The 25th Amendment allows a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president from power if he is unable to fulfil the office’s responsibilities.
A Pence adviser, however, said that the vice president, who would have to lead any such effort, was against using the amendment to oust Trump from the White House.
