President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday emotionally condemned the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol as a mob insurrection that “borders on sedition” and implored President Donald Trump to go on national television to “demand an end to this siege.”
“This is not dissent. It’s disorder. It’s chaos. It borders on sedition and it must end now,” Biden said during a brief address from Wilmington, Delaware. “I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward.”
“The words of a president matter, no matter how good or bad that president,” the president-elect added. “At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.”
Biden, staring into the camera, then addressed Trump directly.
“I call on President Trump to go on national television, now, to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution and demand an end to this siege,” he said.
“To storm the capitol, to smash windows, to occupy offices, the floor of the United States Senate, rummaging through desks … threatening the safety of duly elected officials,” he added. “It’s not protests. It’s insurrection.”
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Biden’s speech came amid scenes of utter chaos in and around the U.S. Capitol, as hundreds of pro-Trump protesters swarmed the building and at least one person was shot, forcing the Senate to evacuate and Vice President Mike Pence to be ushered to a secure location.
The frenzied scene after demonstrators broke through barricades forced Congress to evacuate parts of the building and abruptly pause a ceremonial event affirming that President-elect Joe Biden won the November election. In one dramatic moment, police officers drew guns as protesters tried to break into the House chamber.
Twitter and other social media channels were flooded with images of protesters skirmishing with police officers, and there were multiple reports of rioting inside the Capitol as some protesters broke windows, battered down doors and postured in the Senate chamber.
Hours went by before Trump, in a tweet, directed the National Guard to head to the Capitol. His only other comments on the matter, have also come in the form of short tweets.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
