President Donald Trump is acknowledging his upcoming departure from the White House and condemning the violent protesters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
“I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem,” Trump said in a video he posted on Twitter on Thursday evening.
He accused the protesters of defiling “the seat of American democracy.”
Trump continued, “We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high, but now tempers must be cooled and calm restored.”
He recognized the incoming Biden administration would soon be sworn in.
“A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation,” Trump said.
Watch his remarks below:
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
He told Americans serving as their president has been “the honor” of his lifetime.
Trump first vowed a peaceful transfer of power in a statement posted to Twitter by White House deputy chief of staff for communications and social media director Dan Scavino on Thursday, as IJR previously reported.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th,” Trump said.
He went on, “I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other lawmakers urged Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from office, as IJR previously reported.
The president criticized Pence after he refused to overturn the election results.
“Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.