Just hours after the Democrats certified control of the Senate with Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff being declared the winners of their races in Georgia, The United States Congress shifted into a state of emergency when thousands of Trump supporters swarmed and terrorized the American Capitol. All eyes were stuck on the chaotic riots that forced members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence to flea into hiding.
In Washington, DC late Wednesday afternoon, a large group was protesting outside of the Capitol Building with flags that represented Trump 2020 and the Confederacy, as Congress prepared to certify the victory of President-elect Biden. Earlier that day at a rally, President Trump told the crowd ‘You Will Never Take Back Our Country With Weakness’, in reference to his belief that the election was stolen from him. This action is now what many believe is what helped set in motion the hours of violence caused by the Trump supporting crowd.
This attack on the heart of American democracy led to the death of US Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick, who died of injuries suffered while ‘physically engaging’ with the group who stormed the building. Four other people, all members of the violent mob, died during the stunning attack.
Finally President Trump, for the first time, acknowledged a new administration would take over on January 20 in a video he released Thursday evening. In his video, Trump went on to say the rioters ‘do not represent our country’ and that those who broke the law would pay. He did continue to accuse Congress of stealing the election.
Meanwhile many members of both parties have began to call for President Trump to resign, some even calling for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. According to CNN “The 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president.” This would lead to the immediate removal of President Trump prohibiting him from making any administrative actions in the White House or running for Federal office again.
Sources close to the White House say that while the Vice President and Trump are not on speaking terms, he will most likely not try and remove the President. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she is prepared to move forward with impeachment as early as Monday if the President doesn’t resign. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that the the Senate could not take up any House-passed articles of impeachment until right after Trump’s term ends. Trump can still be taken up on these charges after no longer being the President, which can also ban him from running for President again in the future.
Also this week some social media platforms began the banning of Trump from their networks. First Facebook and Instagram removed his account until at least the end of his Presidency. Twitter took even harsher actions by removing him indefinitely. This will further the frustration for President Trump as his main way of communicating to his supporters is through posting on social media.
Several Trump administration officials have announced that they are resigning including Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, and others. This as many of Trump’s top allies in Washington such as Senator Lindsey Graham have publicly lost all confidence in the President.
With less than two weeks remaining in Mr. Trump’s term, it remains unclear what other damages can be done to his legacy.
