Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

'We will not take it any more,' Trump says as anti-Biden protesters storm U.S. Capitol grounds

Published 01/06/2021, 11:13 AM
Updated 01/06/2021, 02:52 PM
© Reuters. A police officer holds the t-shirt of a man after a clash with supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump outside of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington

© Reuters. A police officer holds the t-shirt of a man after a clash with supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump outside of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington

(Note strong language in paragraphs 6, 7 and 14)

By Jonathan Landay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump addressed thousands of supporters, including members of far-right groups, at a rally in Washington protesting Wednesday's meeting of Congress to confirm his election loss to President-elect Joe Biden in November.

A short walk from the rally, hundreds of Trump supporters overturned barricades and clashed with police on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol where Congress was meeting, clambering onto the structures erected for Biden's inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20 to unfurl Trump flags and gathering on the Capitol steps. Police used teargas and pepper spray on some of the protesters.

Trump, who has spent much of his time since the Nov. 3 election trying to overturn the results, falsely said he won as he spoke on an outdoor stage framing the White House, which Biden is due to move into in two weeks.

Crowds gathered at the "Save America March" wore Trump-approved red baseball caps and cheered as Trump repeated the groundless conspiracy theories that have consumed his final days in office — a period in which coronavirus infections have surged throughout the United States as the pandemic worsens.

"You don't concede when there's theft involved," Trump, a Republican, said after taking the stage following a playlist blasted over loudspeakers of power ballads by Elton John and Phil Collins. "Our country has had enough and we will not take it any more."

For more than an hour, he aired familiar grievances with the news media and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival from the 2016 election, and delighted the crowd by calling Democratic victories the product of what he called "explosions of bullshit."

"Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit!" the crowd chanted in reply. Most were not wearing the face masks urged by health experts to stem the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more than 350,000 Americans.

Weeks have passed since the states completed certifying that Biden, a Democrat, won the election by 306 Electoral College votes to Trump's 232, and Trump's extraordinary challenges to Biden's victory have floundered in courts across the country.

Congress was due to confirm Biden's victory on Wednesday. Many of Trump's fellow Republicans have promised a stonewalling effort that could stretch proceedings past midnight but was almost certain to fail.

Vice President Mike Pence opened the proceedings in his constitutional role as president of the Senate. He said in a statement that while he shared the concerns about the "integrity" of the election, it was not correct that he should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally.

In his remarks at the rally, Trump repeatedly made clear his frustration with Pence if he didn't stop Congress from certifying the result.

"Mike Pence, I hope you're going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and the good of our country," Trump said. "And if you're not, I'm going to be very disappointed in you, I will tell you right now."

PROTESTS

Trump returned to the White House as some at the rally marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to join the protesters storming the U.S. Capitol grounds.

"Drain the swamp!" protesters chanted. "Fuck Joe Biden!"

Members of militia groups and far-right groups, some in body armor, mingled with the crowds, and some government offices buildings were on high alert.

"I'm sheltering in place in my office," Haley Stevens, a Michigan congresswoman, wrote on Twitter. "The building next door has been evacuated. I can’t believe I have to write this."

Washington police earlier banned from the city Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Trump-supporting far-right group the Proud Boys, after he was arrested on Monday for destruction of property and possession of a firearm magazine.

Other members of the men's group, which espouses white nationalism, gathered at the U.S. Capitol.

Crowd control largely fell to the Metropolitan Police Department, which mobilized all 3,750 officers, the Capitol Police, the Park Police, the U.S. Secret Service, and more than 300 members of the city’s National Guard, according to Washington police chief Robert Contee and other officials.

Police have told protesters not to bring their guns to Washington, which has some of the country's strictest gun laws and bans the open carrying of firearms.

© Reuters. A police officer holds the t-shirt of a man after a clash with supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump outside of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington

On Tuesday evening, Trump supporters trying to reach Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House were stopped by police in riot gear who used pepper spray and batons to drive them back. Police said a handful of their officers were injured in scuffles and 10 people were arrested from Tuesday into Wednesday morning, a police spokeswoman said.

Latest comments

Law and Order!!!!
And just like that.....the goofy DC Mayor is against tear gas !!! Ha Ha !!!
Nancy and the goofy DC Mayor are calling for the National Guard. I thought the Dems were against military force against American citizens.....see May/June 2020.
Just like trumpers are the peaceful protesters
 This is a 'peaceful' protest...per NBC news reports from last year.
Funny how Enrique Tarrio is the leader of a group "which espouses white nationalism".
3rd world country
How does Reuter’s know the efforts of trump and congress will fail? I could say “ without evidence Reuter’s says trumps efforts will fail”
Without evidence trump thinks he is still president. Same logic
Because the law is on Biden's side. Trump has no merits behind his efforts. Thus it will fail, over and over again.
Boy they F'd my calls up good. I should've had a stop loss though
Republicans becoming everything they claim about Antifa. Trump disaster rolls on.
And they should after the Bull that Antifa pulled. What a joke. They need to make an example out of them. Antifa is a joke!! A bunch of racist degenerates
Sorry, I must of missed the part in the article where Republicans where destroying property and private business', not to mention harassing and assaulting inoocent bystanders.
in this country it's not what you know, it's what you can prove. Trump dont have the evidence.
Did they paint any streets ? Burn any churches ? Vandalize a Starbucks ? Break any windows ?
Mr. President: Place left arm in front with elbow bent; make a fist; point index finger up; put thumb out; place back of hand on forehead.
What are the qualities of a good leader? Even Google has it simplified in bullet points...
When entertainers and actors try to govern great countries ......
Well suppose its not ideal, but its back to your regular Bush, Obama and Biden-type crooks again.
a loser still in wonderland without considering others safety in pandemics
lol always a hoot hearing hillbillies holler. you can support democratic ideals and you can support republican ideals. but if you support donald trump, you're most likely just a reetard
oh, glad you explained that...you dont sound reetardeg at all.
 Bye Zack, go bore someone else with your drivel.
If US cant recognize that CCP intervened in the election then it doesnt matter whos the new president...
Andy, exactly correct!
you are lying...or you woukdnt have wasted your time.
 You lost, you are a loser. It is over, bye.
Trump lost the confidence of the American people, some of his GOP, Mcconnell, Pence...the only people he has left is his cult followers....Different world come JAN 20th Trump supporters...think he will get nominated for 2024 think again.
GOP should change their name to GOT
When did the GOP become the party of the trailer trash??? most of them look like they could use some government assistance lol.
they spent their 600 for the bus ride to DC. auntie-mommy packed their bags
most of em donated their take too trump over theow the government schtick ....only in America.....you would think theirbwoukd be a law against what he is doin too you folks ...it not like he doesnt knkw what he is up too ....a soft coup attempt
This   guy  spends  more time  trying to keep the job  he's  not  doing.  Let's move  on.
BLM Plaza. So is thay how it hoes you burn the place down and it heys named in your honor?
This person must be a Russian troll
White Nationalists??!!!The leader is BlackAnd Nationalism is NOT bad
nationalism IS bad in reality.
I think you meant radicalism right?
Why do you publish these biased articles? “Far-right militia”? At least give some proves that you are not just bullxitting!
Videos are circulating all over social media. The proof is out there if you look but I know you won't because it doesn't support your biased world view.
the same social media that banned veiwing news on Hunter Biden laptop and money laundering with dad?
 and the BLACK LIVES MATTER ? are they  not MILITIA?
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.