With the Capitol building secured and lawmakers determined to continue the business of affirming the electoral college vote, Donald Trump has tweeted his support to the rioters who stormed the nation’s legislative complex.
Shortly after, Twitter removed the president’s last two posts which both romanticised the actions of the rioters, described as seditious insurrection by both Democrats and Republicans.
He described the unprecedented events of Wednesday afternoon as things that happen “when a sacred landslide victory” is stripped away “unceremoniously” and “viciously”.
Mr Trump lost the election to President-elect Joe Biden by approximately seven million votes in the popular vote and achieved 232 electoral college votes to Mr Biden’s 306.
The president also called the pro-Trump mob who stormed the Capitol “great patriots” saying that they had been “badly and unfairly treated for so long”.
He then told them to “go home with love & in peace”, adding: “Remember this day forever!”
The tweet was immediately flagged by Twitter: “This claim of election fraud is disputed, andt his Tweet can’t be replied to, Retweeted, or liked due to a risk of violence.”
It was then deleted by the social media giant. Facebook has also removed a post by the president.
One woman died of a gunshot wound in the violence in Washington, DC after she was shot inside the legislative building. It is unknown who fired the bullet.
Fifteen people were arrested and eight people were taken to hospital.
The Senate will reconvene at 8pm and finish voting to certify the results of the electoral college.
