Christian Hartmann/Reuters
- World leaders across the globe expressed shock and horror over the violent siege of the US Capitol by President Donald Trump’s supporters on Wednesday.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the occupation of the House and Senate “disgraceful” and urged Trump to peacefully concede the White House.
- Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney delivered a much sharper condemnation of the events, explicitly blaming Trump and his supporters for “a deliberate assault on Democracy.”
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World leaders across the globe expressed shock and horror over the violent siege of the US Capitol by President Donald Trump’s supporters on Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the violent occupation of the House and Senate “disgraceful” and urged Trump to peacefully concede the White House.
“The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” he said.
“Shocking scenes in Washington, D.C.,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted. “The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that his fellow citizens were “deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States.”
"Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people," he said. "Democracy in the US must be upheld - and it will be."
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney delivered a much sharper condemnation of Trump's incitement of violent rioters.
"Shocking & deeply sad scenes in Washington DC - we must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election!" Coveney said. "The world is watching! We hope for restoration of calm."
Australian's conservative prime minister, Scott Morrison, called the events "very distressing."
"We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition," Morrison tweeted.
The Turkish government released a statement saying it was following the events "with concern."
"We are following with concern the domestic developments that followed the US Presidential elections, up to the attempt to raid the Congress building by demonstrators today," the statement read. "We're inviting all sides in the US to use sobriety, moderation, temperance, and common sense. And we believe that America will overcome this internal political crisis with maturity."
—Rachel Glickhouse (@Riogringa) January 6, 2021
New Zealand's former prime minister, Helen Clark, tweeted on Wednesday afternoon: "Never in one's wildest imagination could one have envisaged the dangerous events involving mob violence unfolding in Washington DC today."
Foreign media outlets interrupted local coverage to televise the events. A major French TV news outlet, BFM TV, called the occupation of the House and Senate "le coup de force de pro-Trump," or a "pro-Trump takeover."