US President Donald Trump gives video address a day after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2021. Donald J Trump via Twitter/via REUTERS
US President Donald Trump gives video address a day after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2021. Donald J Trump via Twitter/via REUTERS
US President Donald Trump gives video address a day after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2021. Donald J Trump via Twitter/via REUTERS
US President Donald Trump gives video address a day after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 8, 2021. Donald J Trump via Twitter/via REUTERS

DC riots: Trump condemns violence and recognises Biden win


Patrick deHahn
  • English
  • Arabic

US President Donald Trump posted a new video on Twitter condemning supporters who rioted at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

He also appeared to recognise the results of the 2020 presidential election after weeks of contesting the race.

"Now, Congress has certified the results, and a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20," he said.

The president did not mention the name of his opponent, president-elect Joe Biden, in the video, but he acknowledged the Congressional certification that resulted in Mr Biden's favour.

"My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," he said. "This moment calls for healing and reconciliation."

The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy.

Mr Trump has long challenged the results of the election, claiming widespread voter fraud.

No credible evidence of such fraud has been discovered.

The president still has yet to formally concede the election and the video appears to be his first acknowledgement of the election's results.

"Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem," Mr Trump said. "The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy."

He addressed a rally of supporters on the Eclipse lawn near the White House early Wednesday afternoon.

At the gathering, Mr Trump repeated unsubstantiated claims of how the 2020 presidential election had been stolen and he encouraged supporters to march down to the Capitol.

The rallygoers, many armed, then walked to the Capitol, where hundreds violently stormed the legislative building.

The actions led to four deaths, as well as dozens of arrests.

Authorities say they are continuing to identify and bring criminal charges against those who were involved in the acts of insurrection in Washington, DC.

Mr Trump claimed that he "immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders" in the video.

Multiple US news organisations, including CNN, report that this was not the case. US senators and representatives also confirm that this is not true.

The video comes after multiple White House officials resigned over the violence on Wednesday, including a Cabinet member, Secretary of Transport Elaine Chao.

Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have called for Cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment, which puts into action the removal of the president from office.

Ms Pelosi threatened to start the process to impeach the president in the House if movement was not made towards enacting the 25th Amendment.

"Serving as your president has been the honour of my lifetime," he concluded. "And to all of my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only beginning."

The video is the first tweet Mr Trump made after a 12-hour ban from Twitter, which also ordered him to delete two incendiary tweets posted on Wednesday.

He is also facing social media bans from Facebook, Instagram, Twitch and Snapchat.

if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed