Trump calls on protestors to 'stay peaceful' roughly 40 minutes after violence unfolded at the Capitol
- President Donald Trump weighed in on the protests unfolding around the US Capitol roughly 40 minutes after violent clashes erupted.
- "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday.
- Lawmakers had gathered for a joint session to certify the 2020 presidential election results, a formality of the electoral process.
- Trump, who has still not acknowledged his election defeat, prompted his supporters to show up to the nation's capital and protest the tally.
- Several of his Republican allies also announced plans to object to the electoral process, which would not alter the election outcome.
- Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump, also called for peace as pro-Trump demonstrators breached the Capitol building on Wednesday in an extraordinary display of violence.
- "This is wrong and not who we are," Trump tweeted. "Be peaceful and use your 1st Amendment rights, but don't start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesn't help anyone."
President Donald Trump weighed in on the protests unfolding around the US Capitol roughly 40 minutes after violent clashes erupted.
"Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday.
Trump did not condemn the extraordinary display of violence, nor call for an end to the protests, which cannot overturn the election results.
Less than an hour after the first tweet, Trump put out another tweet, again "asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful."
"No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order - respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!" Trump said.
Multiple news outlets have reported that aides to the president have pushed Trump to release a stronger statement or speak publicly to help stop the chaos, though he has refused.
Lawmakers had gathered for a joint session to certify the 2020 presidential election results, a formality of the Electoral College process. Trump, who has still not acknowledged his election defeat, prompted his supporters earlier this week to show up to the nation's capital on the same day and protest the tally. Shortly before the certification process began at 1 p.m. ET, Trump delivered a speech at the White House, repeating baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 elections.
His supporters flooded the streets around the Capitol, breached barriers and some eventually stormed the building, forcing Congress into recess, with lawmakers, reporters and staff on lockdown inside the House and Senate chambers, hiding under chairs, given gas masks, then later being evacuated.
Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Donald Trump and a popular conservative surrogate, also called for peace.
"This is wrong and not who we are," Trump tweeted. "Be peaceful and use your 1st Amendment rights, but don't start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesn't help anyone."
White House advisor Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, said that pro-Trump supporters on Capitol Hill should respect law enforcement.
"American patriots...Any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable," she wrote. "The violence must stop immediately. Please be peaceful."
When questioned by a follower about why she used the word "patriots" to describe the individuals, she deleted the original tweet and clarified her statement.
"No...Peaceful protest is patriotic," she wrote. "Violence is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms."
Pro-Trump demonstrators have been emboldened by the president's refusal to accept the election results.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.