President Donald J. Trump delivered a video message to Americans Wednesday night, calling upon them, whether “on the left or on the right, a Democrat or a Republican,” to seek ways to ease tension.
As of this morning, the message distributed through the White House Twitter account has been viewed 9.3 million times. With a presidential tone, the president said he “unequivocally condemns the violence” that occurred last week at the Capitol.
“Making America Great Again has always been about defending the rule of law, supporting the men and women of law enforcement and upholding our nation’s most sacred traditions and values,” he says. “Mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence. No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American Flag. No supporter of mine could ever threaten or harass their fellow Americans. If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement, you are attacking it, and you are attacking our country.”
In a separate statement published Wednesday on the White House website, the president addresses briefing reports he’s receiving on more demonstrations planned for Washington, D.C., and other areas of the country. He says: “I urge you that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind. That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank you.”
View the president’s 5-minute address here.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 13, 2021
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