“At this hour, our Democracy is under an unprecedented assault unlike anything we have seen in modern times,” said President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, summing up the ongoing mayhem at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. “The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are. What we’re seeing are small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end now.”
Biden continued, “I’m genuinely shocked and sad that our nation has come to such a dark moment. America is so much better than what we’ve seen today.”
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris echoed Biden. “I join President-elect @JoeBiden in calling for the assault on the Capitol and our nation’s public servants to end, and as he said, ‘allow the work of democracy to go forward,’” she tweeted.
Barack Obama posted a lengthy statement to Twitter in which he said that history will remember today’s violence as “a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation.” But he also gave a message of hope, writing, “I’ve been heartened to see many members of the President’s party speak up forcefully today. Their voices add to the examples of Republican state and local election officials in states like Georgia who’ve refused to be intimidated and have discharged their duties honorably. We need more leaders like these — right now and in the days, weeks and months ahead as President-elect Biden works to restore a common purpose to our politics.”
Former President George W. Bush published a statement in which he expressed his “disbelief and dismay.” “This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic — not our democratic republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions and law enforcement.” He also added that “insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and reputation.”
Wednesday was meant to mark a day of a peaceful transfer of power. Instead, the process of Congress certifying Biden as the next president of the United States was disrupted by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, who stormed the Capitol in a riotous, and at times violent and illegal, display.
Pro-Trump supporters breached the building and stormed the U.S. Senate floor as Senators were told to shelter in place; some rummaged through offices of the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the lawmakers had been evacuated. Much of the chaos was shared to social media and broadcast live across the news networks, with anchors from CNN and MSNBC to Fox News reacting in shock and disbelief in real time, quickly clarifying the protestors as “domestic terrorists” on air.
CNN’s chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta called out Trump for being a “television viewer in chief” and failing to condemn his supporters and put an end to the hours of chaos. Trump, who earlier had encouraged his supporters to make their voices heard amid the congressional proceedings, initially took to Twitter to ask the crowd to “remain peaceful” and “respect the law” — a muted response that was swiftly criticized by politicians, members of the media and Hollywood figures alike.
Many in Hollywood condemned the lack of a militarized response, especially in comparison to the federal response to the Black Lives Matter protests earlier in 2020.
Not until after 4 p.m. Eastern Time did Trump tell the rioters to “go home” in a video message, shortly after it was announced by his staff that the National Guard had been called in. The video was flagged by Twitter, due to Trump including false claims of election fraud in the message.
Facebook and YouTube later removed the video from their platforms amid outcry over Trump’s false claims.
At that time, the chaos had yet to abate. The crowd began to thin about an hour later as it began to get dark. A 6 p.m. local time curfew had been called earlier in the day by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Meanwhile, shortly after Trump’s address, Georgia was declared to have officially turned blue, with both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff winning their respective, highly anticipated Senate runoff races and giving Democrats the majority.
Around 5:30 p.m., CNN reported that “some tear gas” had been deployed as riot police could be seen arriving to disperse the remaining mob.
Read the posts as the day devolved below. (This story will continue to be updated.)
Hey Mark Zuckerberg, @jack, @SusanWojcicki and @sundarpichai — Donald Trump just incited a violent attack on American democracy.
Is that FINALLY enough for you to act?!
It’s time to ban Donald Trump from your platforms once and for all! pic.twitter.com/4oWoiMu0eC
— Sacha Baron Cohen (@SachaBaronCohen) January 6, 2021
On behalf of America @jack and @twitter you need to pull the chord on him now. He can’t have this platform anymore. Don’t be complicit in the violence he is instigating. Anyone out there want to co-sign?
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 6, 2021
SHUT THIS LYING LUNATIC’S ACCOUNT DOWN NOW
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 6, 2021
The President says “we love you” to a mob that stormed and terrorized the capitol. It’s ironic that this person has been so enabled by a Congress that meets in the place his rhetoric has manifested into real violence. #deepthoughts
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) January 6, 2021
I was chased and run through tear gas demonstrating against the war in the 70s. What the police DIDN’T do today was shocking. They sure were ready during the BLM demos which was peaceful
— Michael Keaton (@MichaelKeaton) January 6, 2021
“I know your pain. I know your hurt. But you have to go home now… We love you. You’re very special.”
– Trump to his terrorists pic.twitter.com/mb6GaV0Gxo
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 6, 2021
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 6, 2021
— jlo (@JLo) January 6, 2021
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 6, 2021
So, are we completely out of rubber bullets and tear gas?
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) January 6, 2021
Not “supporters”. Not “rioters”. The word is “terrorists”.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 6, 2021
Correction: domestic terrorists
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) January 6, 2021
If this image isn’t used in every democratic campaign in 2022, I don’t know what we’re doing here. pic.twitter.com/gY34klljIu
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) January 6, 2021
Brought to you by Republican cowardice. “But I might get challenged in a primary. I won’t be able to hang out at my country club. But if I lose, I won’t get a job on Fox News.”
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) January 6, 2021
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 6, 2021
This is not over. And the blame sits squarely in the hands of this current President, his supporters, and all who have helped prop him up.
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) January 6, 2021
Storming the Capitol is not patriotic.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 6, 2021
25th Amendment! That’s the Tweet. #CoupAttempt
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 6, 2021
If they can get the protesters out, maybe they can finish certifying the election by tonight and then move on to the impeachment…
— David Mandel (@DavidHMandel) January 6, 2021
Nope. Too late. This is on you. And you know it. You invited it. You encouraged it. And you will (hopefully) be prosecuted for it.
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) January 6, 2021
NY State needs to prosecute Donald Trump for all the crimes we would go to jail for if we committed them. He is a menace who should not be allowed to live freely and destroy our country.
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) January 6, 2021
it’s not a mob, it’s terrorism. they’re not pro-Trump, they’re white supremacists.
— ilana glazer (@ilazer) January 6, 2021
The only thing that might stop this is for Donald Trump to concede the election.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 6, 2021
Because that is what it is. A coup. Not patriotism. A COUP.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 6, 2021
— Jaina Lee Ortiz (@JainaLeeOrtiz) January 6, 2021
INSIDE the Capital. Joining with a terrorist a taking selfies.
LOOK AT THIS.
In another scenario there would be black bodies on the floor.#CoupAttempt pic.twitter.com/ECaUyrRym2
— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) January 6, 2021
.@RabbaSusan: “Remember when people in wheelchairs were dragged away from McConnell’s office for peacefully protesting cuts in Medicaid?” ⬇️⬇️
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 6, 2021
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 6, 2021
qwhite a difference compared with today … guess you don’t need a militarized response for domestic terrorists committing insurrection, but you do for folks asking not to be killed? K.
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) January 6, 2021
Just rolling up and into the Capitol showing all of their privilege…no tear gas and no rubber bullets
— Rachel Lindsay (@TheRachLindsay) January 6, 2021
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 6, 2021
Where is Trump? Why isn’t he in front of a camera demanding a stop to this?
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 6, 2021
There was a bigger police presence at the capitol to stop Jane Fonda from sitting in about climate change. pic.twitter.com/eG1WL7eVia
— Jamie Henn (@jamieclimate) January 6, 2021
All of this for Donald Trump. A fucking clown if there ever was one. What a country.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 6, 2021
Trump terrorist mob has now entered and taken over Senate chamber. Glass on doors to House chamber broken. I am communicating with a Member who is inside and taking cover. One thing seems clear: This isn’t random. It was planned. No police presence to stop it.The coup is underway
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 6, 2021
This is either a dereliction of duty by the Capital Police or a complicit desire to not plan for the known threat of chaos today. Either way, this is inexcusable. If you can be prepared for imaginary ANTIFA protestors, you had no business not prepping for these actual terrorists.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) January 6, 2021
Imagine if this was our side. There would be rivers of our blood in the streets and not a single one of us would be armed. This has been allowed. #CoupAttempt
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 6, 2021
This is a coup attempt on behalf of Trump and his complicit allies. This is All on Trump and his administration. The cowards in the GOP must be held accountable. #CoupAttempt
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 6, 2021
Here’s my statement on today’s violence at the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/jLCKo2D1Ya
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 7, 2021
It’s time.#RemoveTrumpNow
2 more weeks of this insanity is too dangerous.— Ed Helms (@edhelms) January 7, 2021
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