New Video by President Trump Denounces ‘Mob Violence’ and Urges Calm for Transition
Jan. 14 , 2021 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump released a five-minute video last night, posted on the White House YouTube channel, in which he again strongly decried the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and urged that there be no violence in the coming days leading to the inauguration of Joe Biden. Trump was quite emphatic in his effort to put a lot of daylight between himself and those engaging in violence.
“Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag. No true supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement—you are attacking it and you are attacking our country. We cannot tolerate it.”
Trump’s opening comment was:
“My fellow Americans. I want to speak to you tonight about the troubling events of the past week. As I have said, the incursion of the U.S. Capitol struck at the very heart of our republic. It angered and appalled millions of Americans across the political spectrum. I want to be very clear: I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last week. Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country and no place in our movement. ‘Making America Great Again’ has always been about defending the rule of law, supporting the men and women of law enforcement, and upholding our nation’s most sacred traditions and values.”
The President further declared:
“Tragically over the course of the past year, made so difficult because of COVID-19, we have seen political violence spiral out of control. We have seen too many riots, too many mobs, too many acts of intimidation, and destruction. It must stop. Whether you are on the right or on the left, a Democrat or a Republican, there is never a justification for violence. No excuses, no exceptions. America is a nation of laws. Those who engaged in the attacks last week will be brought to justice. Now, I am asking everyone who has ever believed in our agenda, to be thinking of ways to ease tensions, calm tempers and help to promote peace in our country.”
In response to “reporting that additional demonstrations are being planned” in Washington and elsewhere in the country, he also assured Americans that the government would “use all necessary resources ... to secure the city and ensure that a transition can occur safely and without incident.”
Trump further used the occasion to rip into the
“unprecedented assault on free speech we have seen in recent days. These are tense and difficult times. The efforts to censor, cancel and blacklist our fellow citizens are wrong and they are dangerous. What is needed now is for us to listen to one another, not to silence one another. All of us can choose by our actions to rise above the rancor and find common ground and shared purpose,”
Trump said. “Today I am calling on all Americans to overcome the passions of the moment and join together as one American people. Let us choose to move forward united, for the good of our families, our communities, and our country.”
Trump also wrote a statement in his capacity as the President on the White House website yesterday: “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.”
