After 12 glorious hours, Donald Trump has unfortunately returned to Twitter. It was so peaceful for a while there. But we regret to say that he’s back, returning to acknowledge the incoming administration in a speech he definitely didn’t write himself.
First things first, Trump appears to have finally conceded the election.
“A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th,” he said.
“My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.”
Funny – some might say a seamless transition of power would include not inciting a violent mob to storm the U.S. Capitol while the presidential election results were being ratified. Hmmm. Much to ponder.
This is the closet we’ve come to a concession speech since he lost the election back in November, and is the first time Trump has acknowledged the incoming Joe Biden / Kamala Harris administration.
However, he signalled another tilt at the presidency in 2024 (helllll).
“To all of my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning,” he said.
In the speech, Trump condemned the attempted coup as a “heinous attack”, claiming that he was “outraged by the lawlessness, violence and mayhem” that he literally instigated.
“To those who engaged in the violent acts of destruction, you do not represent our country, and to those who broke the law, you will pay,” he said.
Trump put out a video to say he’s outraged by the violence he caused.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) January 8, 2021
Just yesterday, Trump told these same people that he loved them and they were “very special“.
“I know your pain, I know you’re hurt,” he told them in a video that was later removed by Twitter and Facebook for inciting violence.
“We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now, we have to have peace, we have to have law and order.”
Trump and his cronies have spent weeks pushing baseless conspiracies that the election was rigged, organising a protest to clash with the certification of Biden’s win, and whipping up supporters into a violence mob.
“You’ll never take back our country with weakness,” he told the crowd yesterday. “You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.”
His actions have been condemned by everyone from former Presidents, to his former staff, and even several Republicans (although most of them are too cowardly to put their names to the statements they’re feeding media).
“It’s time to invoke the 25th Amendment and end this nightmare,” Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger said.
Vice President Mike Pence, the only person who can invoke the 25th Amendment, is reportedly opposed to doing so.
Meanwhile, Trump might be back on Twitter, but Facebook and Instagram have suspended him indefinitely, and at least until Biden is inaugurated as president.
Until then… lucky this guy has the nuclear codes still, right?
