US President Donald Trump has finally conceded to president-elect Joe Biden and "unequivocally" condemned the protesters who stormed the nation's Capitol. "Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem,” Trump said in a video. “I immediately dispatched national guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay.”
For the longest period, Trump had refused to accept the November 6 election results which went in favour of Democratic nominee Joe Biden. He had called the polls "rigged" and alleged massive voter fraud. He had even appeared conciliatory to the protesters in the early stages, saying that he loved them. Then he had said: "I know your pain. I know you're hurt. 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."
"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. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home at peace," Trump said.
Now, for the first time, he appeared to have conceded to Biden. "We have just been through an intense election and tempers are high. Now, calm must be restored. We must get on with the business of America. We pursued every legal avenue, in doing so were vigorously trying to defend American democracy," he said.
He also said that now that Congress has certified the results, the new administration will be inaugurated on January 20 and his focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power. "This moment calls for healing," he said.
Biden blames Trump
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday denounced the rioters who stormed the US Capitol as domestic terrorists and he blamed President Donald Trump for the violence that has shaken the nation's capital and beyond.
"The protest by Trump supporters that breached the security of Congress on Wednesday was not dissent, was not disorder, was not protest. It was chaos. Those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying Biden's election victory over Trump weren't protesters. Don't dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. It's that basic," Biden said.
In solemn tones, Biden said the actions Trump has taken to subvert the nation's democratic institutions throughout his presidency led directly to the mayhem in Washington.
In the past four years, we've had a president who's made his contempt for our democracy, our constitution, the rule of law clear in everything he has done, Biden said. "He unleashed an all-out assault on our institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was the culmination of that unrelenting attack.
-Inputs from agencies