President Trump posted a recorded video to social media on Wednesday telling the mob of people who stormed the U.S. Capitol to “go home in peace.”
The President posted the video after President-elect Joe Biden addressed the nation himself on live TV and called for Trump to do the same. Biden requested that Trump go on live TV to address the American people and to tell the angry crowd to leave the Capitol.
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But the President settled for this video: (update: Twitter locks Trump’s account after he responds to Capitol chaos with more false election claims)
The President told people to return home, to leave the area peacefully. However, he continued to claim the election was stolen from him. That’s something that has been disproven over and over again since Nov. 3 -- by courts, through audits, recounts, and by Trump’s own attorney general.
Trump called it a fraudulent election while telling people to remain peaceful.
“Everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now, we have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anybody hurt,” the President said.
The large group of supporters for Trump were rioting Wednesday at U.S. Capitol buildings in Washington D.C. as lawmakers are meeting to certify an election win for Joe Biden. One woman was fatally shot during the violent altercations with Capitol Police.
The D.C. mayor has issued a curfew beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday and lasting until 6 a.m. Thursday.
More coverage: Pro-Trump rioters storm US Capitol, force lockdown: Follow live coverage
Related: Pence defies Trump, says he can’t reject electoral votes
Update: 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6 (AP)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Congress will resume the Electoral College proceedings once the Capitol is cleared of pro-Donald Trump protesters and safe for use.
Pelosi said she made the decision Wednesday in consultation with the Pentagon, the Justice Department and the vice president, who will preside.
She noted the day would always be “part of history,” but now it would be “as such a shameful picture of our country was put out into the world.”