Donald Trump speaks to insurrectionists occupying Capitol: 'I love you. You're very special'

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday January 06, 2021 · 1:22 PM PST

2021/01/06 · 13:22

US President Donald Trump smiles during a phone conversation with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto on trade in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on August 27, 2018. - President Donald Trump said Monday the US had reached a "really good deal" with Mexico and talks with Canada would begin shortly on a new regional free trade pact."It's a big day for trade. It's a really good deal for both countries," Trump said."Canada, we will start negotiations shortly. I'll be calling their prime minister very soon," Trump said.US and Mexican negotiators have been working for weeks to iron out differences in order to revise the nearly 25-year old North American Free Trade Agreement, while Canada was waiting to rejoin the negotiations. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

For more than two hours, the nation’s capital has been under siege. Police have been injured, a woman has been shot, at least one improvised explosive device has been found. Both chambers of Congress have invaded by a mob of armed insurrectionists intent on overthrowing the elected government, congressional offices are being ransacked, and both the Senate and House have been evacuated along with several other federal buildings. All of this came after Donald Trump told his supporters he was going to march with them “up Pennsylvania Avenue” to the Capitol, where they would “cheer” for Republicans opposing the counting of the Electoral College vote.

But Trump didn’t march. He didn’t walk so much as a block. Instead, he got back into his car and returned to the White House. As a result, many of his supporters were convinced that Trump was still physically with them, even when the assault on the Capitol building began. Even as his supporters shoved over barriers, smashed through windows, broke open doors, and injured police to occupy the Capitol and threaten both legislators and their staffs. In those hours, Trump has issued only two milquetoast tweets, neither of which called on the terrorists who came to Washington, D.C. at his invitation to halt their invasion. Trump hasn’t just failed to issue a call to end this attempted insurrection, he has refused.

Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021 · 9:43:02 PM +00:00 · kos

Losing the U.S. Capitol during a key electoral procedure to a modestly-sized crowd from a publicly-announced event is not a "failure." It was a decision. They were ordered to not do what they normally would've done. We need a full accounting of every single official involved. https://t.co/YiuqCicEJ0
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) January 6, 2021

Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021 · 9:46:05 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

I am drawing up Articles of Impeachment.

Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate.

We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 6, 2021

Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021 · 9:48:20 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

CNN: National Association of Manufacturers, the nation's largest manufacturing association, called on Vice President Mike Pence Wednesday to consider working to remove President Trump from office.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 6, 2021

Multiple sources have reported that several people inside the White House, including Mike Pence, have called on Trump to issue a stronger statement to his followers. However, Trump is said to be angry at Pence for failing to overturn the election results … so he’s holding the whole nation hostage to his pout.

Pence has issued his own statement saying that “those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” However, that also remains to be seen. Having gathered his followers together under the promise of a “wild” time; having spent months inflaming them with lies about a stolen election; and having spent years teaching his followers to disregard every other source … there is every reason to expect that, far from prosecuting the terrorists, Trump will issue a blanket pardon.

At 4 PM EST, President-elect Joe Biden issued a statement in which he said: “This is not protest. It is insurrection.” He called on Trump to go on national television and end this attempted overthrow of the nation.

Fifteen minutes later, Trump issued a statement to the terrorists saying: “I love you. You’re very special. I know how you feel.” In the video, Trump continued to insist that the election was stolen and he won in a landslide.

Trump did say for terrorists to “go home in peace.” That’s one hell of a lot different from “prosecuted the fullest extent of the law.”

pic.twitter.com/Pm2PKV0Fp3
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021

Donald Trump speaks to insurrectionists occupying Capitol: 'I love you. You're very special'

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