‘This is not America’: Europe reacts as Trump
supporters riot in US capital
National and EU leaders call for democracy to be
respected.
BY EMMA
ANDERSON
January 6,
2021 10:27 pm
European
politicians expressed concern over “highly disturbing” scenes as supporters of
Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building and clashed with police in Washington
amid a push to overturn the U.S. president’s electoral defeat.
The breach
of the Capitol building came as Congress members were in the midst of counting
Electoral College votes in the election — the final step toward certifying Joe
Biden’s win. Vice President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the proceedings,
was among those evacuated from the Senate chamber and Getty images broadcast on
national television appeared to show an armed standoff at the door of the House
of Representatives’ floor.
Hours
later, police declared the Capitol was secured.
The EU’s
foreign policy chief Josep Borrell strongly condemned the riots, saying “This
is not America.”
“In the
eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege,” Borrell
tweeted, saying the November election results must be respected. “This is an
unseen assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law. This is
not America. The election results of 3 November must be fully respected.”
NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the images as “shocking,” adding:
“The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.”
U.K. Prime
Minister Boris Johnson described the scenes as “disgraceful,” adding: “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.”
Dutch Prime
Minister Mark Rutte said the images coming out of Washington were “horrible”
and called on Trump to recognize Biden “as the next president today.”
Spanish
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he was “following the news coming out of the
Capitol in Washington. I believe in the strength of U.S. democracy. Joe Biden’s
presidency will survive this period of tension and unite the American people.”
German
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted that “the enemies of democracy will be glad
to see these outrageous images,” comparing it to when anti-coronavirus
restrictions protesters tried to storm the German parliament building last
August. “Inflammatory words turn into violent acts — on the steps of the
Reichstag, and now in the #Capitol. The disdain for democratic institutions is
devastating.”
Maas added:
“Trump and his supporters should at last accept the decision of the American
voters and stop trampling on democracy.”
European
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “I believe in the strength of
US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core.
@JoeBiden won the election. I look forward to working with him as the next
President of the USA.”
European
Council President Charles Michel described the U.S. Congress as “a temple of
democracy” and said “We trust the US to ensure a peaceful transfer of power” to
Biden.
French
Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “The violent acts against
American institutions are a grave attack against democracy. I condemn them. The
will and the vote of the American people must be respected.”
EU
Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni described the scenes as “images we
never wanted to see,” while European Parliament President David Sassoli said it
was “deeply concerning,” adding: “Democratic votes must be respected. We are
certain the US will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected.”
Ivan
Korcok, Slovakia’s foreign minister, tweeted: “I am concerned over the
developments at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. This is the moment when the
democratic process and rule of law must be respected.”
Denmark’s
Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod called the scenes in Washington “highly
disturbing” and “unpleasant,” but said he expects American democracy to come
down “on the right side this time too.”
“Denmark
supports democratic transition in the United States. I am very much looking
forward to working with the Biden administration,” Kofod added.
In the U.K.
the chair of the House of Commons’ foreign affairs committee, Tom Tugendhat, a
Conservative, wrote: “The US Republic has inspired millions. Not today. Today
many will watch the screens fearful of the power of demagogues who claim to
speak for the powerless but tear apart the laws that constrain the strong and
protect the weak. The actions of [Donald Trump] threaten us all.”
Tobias
Ellwood, another senior Tory MP and chair of the defense committee, urged Trump
to “Call your people off.”
Trump
himself addressed the riots on Twitter, initially calling 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!”
Earlier
Wednesday, Trump encouraged his supporters at a rally outside the White House
to march on the Capitol. He told them that “you’ll never take back our country
with weakness,” and that “you have to show strength.”
Biden gave
a televised speech from Delaware, urging Trump to address the nation and
“demand an end to this siege.”
“It’s not
protest, it’s insurrection. The world is watching,” Biden added.
After
Biden’s speech, Trump told people to “go home and go home in peace,” in a video
posted on Twitter. He continued to restate baseless claims that the election
was “stolen,” but said “We can’t play into the hands of these people.”
He added:
“Go home, we love you, you’re very special.”
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