Donald Trump has urged his supporters to “go home with love and in peace” after chaos at the US Capitol building.
Hours after angry MAGA supporters rallied outside the Capitol, tore down the barricades, and charged into the building as the congress held a joint session to certify Joe Biden’s election win, Trump appeared to call for peace.
“I know your pain, I know you’re hurt,” Trump said as he addressed his supporters on Twitter.
“We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and 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. It’s a very tough period of time. There’s never been a time like this, where such a thing happened, where they could take it away from all of us. From me, from you, from our country.
“This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you, you’re very special. We’ve seen what happens, you see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know you how feel. But go home, and go home in peace.”
While the President refused to concede defeat and give up on his allegations of election fraud, he doubled down on telling his supporters to leave the Capitol in a tweet that followed shortly after his speech.
“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!” he wrote.
Throughout the day, Trump remained active on Twitter whereas he earlier on urged his supporters to support ‘the blue’ and stay peaceful during the protest at the Capitol.
“Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful,” Trump tweeted at 2.38 pm.
Just over half an hour later, he added: “I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!”
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