Trump says election was 'stolen' and 'these are the things and events that happen' tells people to 'go home'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}President Trump said "these are the things and events that happen," referring to violent protests that sent the U.S. Capitol Building into lockdown, when a "landslide victory" is "vicously stripped away from great patriots," while urging America to "remember this day forever."
The president, just after 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday when the city-wide curfew began for Washington D.C., again told protesters to "go home."
"These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," Trump tweeted. "Go home with love & peace."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He added: "Remember this day forever!"
The president's tweet comes shortly after he posted a video message to Twitter, addressing supporters, saying: "I know your pain, I know your hurt."
TRUMP DIRECTS NATIONAL GUARD TO CAPITOL
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We had an election that was stolen from us," Trump said from the White House. "It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side."
He added: "But you have to go home now. We have to have peace, we have to have law and order we have to respect our great people in law and order. We don’t want anyone hurt."
The president went on to say that it is a "very tough period of time—there has never been a time like this where such a thing happened, where they could take it away from all of us— from me, from you, from our country."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"This was a fraudulent election, but we can’t play into the hands of these people," Trump said. "We have to have peace."
Trump added: "So go home, we love you, you're very special, you’ve seen what happens, you’ve seen the way others are treated that are so bad, so evil. I know how you feel."
"But go home and go home in peace," he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The president’s video comes as Republicans and Democrats alike slammed him for not condemning the violence that erupted on Capitol Hill during a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the presidential election.
The president’s video, which he tweeted from his account, was flagged by Twitter.
"This claim of election fraud is disputed, and this Tweet can’t be replied to, Retweeted, or liked due to a risk of violence," Twitter’s flag stated.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Earlier, the president urged protesters to "stay peaceful" on Twitter.
"Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!" Trump tweeted.
Minutes later, he said he was "asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order—respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!" He tweeted.
The president’s tweets come as pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol, sending Congress into recess as they attempted to certify the results of the presidential election in favor of President-elect Joe Biden.
The president spoke earlier in the day in Washington D.C., to supporters, who later marched to the Capitol, and mounted further pressure on Vice President Mike Pence to act on his own to decertify the results of the election and send them back to the states for recertification.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TRUMP SLAMS PENCE, SAYS HE 'DIDN'T HAVE THE COURAGE' TO DECERTIFY ELECTION RESULTS
Pence, before the joint session of Congress began, said he did not believe, under the Constitution, that he had the authority to "unilaterally" accept or reject electoral votes.
The president slammed Pence, saying he "didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"USA demands the truth!" Trump tweeted.
Protesters from the pro-Trump rally descended on the Capitol, clashing with police and leading authorities to lockdown the buildings.
Pence was rushed out of the House chamber.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News has learned that a shooting victim was transported from the U.S. Capitol, as windows and doors were broken, and guns were drawn on the House floor. The Metropolitan Police Department told Fox News that victim has died.