White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered brief remarks at the White House on Thursday, in which she rejected Wednesday’s violence at the Capitol, called on Americans to unit, and echoed President Donald Trump’s reassurance for a peaceful transition.
McEnany said she spoke for the entire White House when she referred to the violence at the Capitol as “appalling, reprehensible and antithetical to the American way,” adding, “we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
She described the violence as being carried out by a “group of violent rioters” who undermined the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly of thousands who attended the peaceful “Stop the Steal” rally.
“Those who violently besieged the Capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for,” McEnany said. “The core value of our administration is the idea that all citizens have the right to live in safety, peace, and freedom.”
McEnany ended her two-minute remarks by noting that the administration is preparing for transition and is calling for Americans to unite.
“Those who are working in this building are working to ensure an orderly transition of power,” McEnany said. “Now it is time for America to unite, to come together, to reject the violence we have seen. We are one American people under God.”
McEnany’s remarks echo those of President Trump on Wednesday and Thursday, in which he denounced violence, called on his supporters to be peaceful, and also said he was preparing for an orderly transition to the Biden administration.
“Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!” said Trump, via a statement shared through White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino early Thursday.
Scavino posted Trump’s statement to his own Twitter account after both Twitter and Facebook disabled the president’s respective accounts. Both platforms claimed Trump’s posts had multiple policy violations, and Facebook said it had banned Trump’s account indefinitely, at least through the remainder of his term.
Twitter locked Trump’s account indefinitely until he removes three tweets that allegedly violate the company’s policies.
The last visible tweets on Trump’s accounts are two calls to his supporters to be peaceful on Wednesday.
“I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!” Trump tweeted.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump also pleaded with protesters to support the police.
“Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!” he said.
The tweets were Trump’s first comments since people at the pro-Trump rally protesting the election results had broken through fencing and stormed the U.S. Capitol building, overtaking police and eventually breaching the House of Representatives chamber.
