WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump conceded the election Thursday to Joe Biden after nearly two months of legal challenges and misinformation that sowed the seeds of an insurrection by his supporters at the US Capitol.
In a new video posted to Twitter following the end of his 12-hour ban, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone than on Wednesday when he called his supporters who stormed into the US Capitol "great patriots."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
On Thursday, Trump opened by saying anyone who broke the law by breaking into the Capitol building should be punished by the law after they "defiled the seat of American democracy."
He spoke out against the violence, calling it a "heinous attack" that left him "outraged by the violence lawlessness and mayhem."
"America is, and must always be, a nation of law and order." said Trump.
Trump added that his only goal in challenging the election results was to ensure the integrity of the vote, but now that Joe Biden had been confirmed as the next president, he wanted tensions to ease.
"Tempers must be cooled and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America." Trump said.
Trump says that now that Congress has certified the results, the "new administration will be inaugurated on January 20 "and his focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power."
"This moment calls for healing and reconciliation." added Trump.
Before ending the video, Trump told his supporters that his journey was "only just the beginning."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
