As the threat of future violent demonstrations leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration hangs over the nation, President Donald Trump is making an appeal for peace.
In a short statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the president said, “In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind.”
“That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers,” he added.
Read the statement below:
.@POTUS: In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You. pic.twitter.com/mOOGZjqTLW
— Kayleigh McEnany 45 Archived (@PressSec45) January 13, 2021
The president’s statement comes a week after a pro-Trump mob breached security at the U.S. Capitol and stormed the building, which left five dead.
As rioters broke into the Capitol, Trump took to Twitter to attack Vice President Mike Pence for not trying to throw out Electoral College votes — which he does not have the power to do.
In a separate tweet, he urged the rioters to “remain peaceful.” Likewise, in a video message, he told individuals involved in storming the Capitol to “go home in peace.”
However, Congressional Democrats and some Republicans have accused the president of inciting the mob. Democratic lawmakers have introduced one article of impeachment against Trump that accuses him of “incitement of insurrection.”
Lawmakers have focused on the president’s remarks at a rally shortly before rioters marched to the Capitol and overwhelmed security there.
During the speech, Trump suggested that his supporters should “walk down to the Capitol.”
“We’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and we’re probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong,” he said.
He continued, “We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesn’t happen. You don’t concede when there’s theft involved. Our country has had enough. We will not take it anymore, and that is what this is all about.”
Trump also claimed, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
The president has since defended his speech as he claimed, “People thought that what I said was totally appropriate.”
The FBI is warning law enforcement officials that armed protests are being planned at state capitols in every state and the U.S. Capitol ahead of Biden’s inauguration.
