AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
- President Donald Trump expressed regret for a video he shared on Thursday, during which he condemned the US Capitol riots and promised a smooth transfer of power, according to a New York Times report.
- Trump shared the video one day after a violent mob of his supporters breached the federal building, causing lawmakers to evacuate and leaving five people dead.
- House Democrats have threatened Trump with impeachment unless he resigns, however, the president refuses to do so, according to The Times.
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President Donald Trump expressed regret for a video he shared on Thursday, during which he condemned the riots at the US Capitol and promised a smooth transition of power, according to a report from The New York Times.
In the video, posted one day after a violent mob of his supporters breached the federal building, the president said those involved “have defiled the seat of American democracy” and “will pay.”
He also acknowledged that a “new administration” will be inaugurated on January 20, something he has often declined to do.
“My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power,” he said in the video.
The following day, however, Trump said he would not attend President-elect Biden’s inauguration.
Since the Capitol riots that caused Congress to evacuate and left five people dead, the fallout has been swift for Trump.
Administration officials, including two cabinet members, have resigned. Lawmakers, including from his own party, have called on him to resign. And House Democrats and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have threatened to impeach him.
But the president is refusing to resign, according to The Times report.
In the video Trump reportedly now regrets, he did not repeat the unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud that he has spread since losing the election.
He also called for "healing and reconciliation."
"We must revitalize the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that bind us together as one national family," he said.
Trump shared the video after being locked out of his Twitter account for about half a day after the platform said some of his tweets violated their policies against inciting violence.
One of the tweets was a video of Trump addressing the rioters, in which he said "go home, we love you, you are very special," and repeated unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election. He did not condemn the violent actions of his supporters.
On Friday, one day after regaining access to his account, Trump was suspended from Twitter permanently "due to the risk of further incitement of violence," the firm said.