Following a day of chaos in the United States capital, President Donald Trump has conceded the 2020 presidential election and called for “healing and reconciliation”.
In a nearly three-minute video, Trump who spoke from the White House on Thursday January 7, started by condemning Capitol Hill invasion carried out by his supporters on Wednesday, which resulted in at least four deaths and several dozen injuries.
Read Also: US Election Result: 4 Dead, 52 Arrested After Trump’s Supporters Invaded US Capitol
Trump added;
I would like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United State’s Capitol. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem.
The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol has defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay.
The outgoing president defeat at the hands of Democratic challenger Joe Biden was certified by Congress late Wednesday after order was restored.
Read Also: Trump Pledges Orderly Transfer Of Power, As Congress Affirms Biden’s Victory
Trump spoke of his efforts to overturn the election results in the past tense and then called for peace: “tempers must be cooled, and calm restored”.
Then, for the first time, he said a “new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th” but refused to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name.
He conceded that;
A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.
Trump came under fire for repeatedly and baselessly questioning the election results and then rallying his supporters outside the Capitol as the electoral college votes were about to be certified on Wednesday.
Several of Trump’s tweets were censored by Twitter on Wednesday for violating the site’s rules, and Facebook took the unusual step of banning Trump indefinitely, for at least two weeks until Biden can be inaugurated on Wednesday, January 20.
In light of this week’s events, both Republican and Democrat lawmakers have called for Trump to be removed from office, either by the 25th Amendment, which calls for a President’s cabinet to replace him if he’s “unable to discharge the powers and duties” of the office, or by a second round of impeachment hearings.
Watch Donald Trump’s conceding in the video below;
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
