The Wall Street Journal editorial board today called on Donald Trump to resign, blaming him for inciting the storming of the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday by a mob of his supporters.
WSJ: The conservative newspaper’s editorial board said Trump must resign now to avoid being impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for a second time, even though Trump only has 13 days until he leaves the White House.
“In concise summary, on Wednesday the leader of the executive branch incited a crowd to march on the legislative branch,” the editorial board said, referring to Trump urging supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol to protest against Congress certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election win.
“It was also an assault on the legislature from an executive sworn to uphold the laws of the United States. This goes beyond merely refusing to concede defeat. In our view it crosses a constitutional line that Mr. Trump hasn’t previously crossed. It is impeachable.”
Roughly 10 minutes after the Journal published its editorial, Trump put out a video in which he said the rioters who stormed the Capitol “defiled the seat of American democracy.”
And though he continued to double down on his baseless claims of election fraud, he said there would be “an orderly transition” to the Biden presidency on Jan. 20.
Even so, multiple lawmakers — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — called for Trump to be removed from office, either by impeachment or invoking the 25th amendment.
Trump’s Twitter and Facebook accounts were suspended on Wednesday, with Facebook extending its ban past Biden’s inauguration.
For much of Trump’s presidency, the WSJ supported the Republican commander-in-chief.
But in an editorial last month, the board called the then-upcoming attempt by some Republicans to challenge election results and get votes for Biden thrown out “embarrassing.”
In the video, Trump conceded publicly for the first time that he will not serve a second term, stopping short of congratulating President-elect Joe Biden but acknowledging a transfer of power is now underway.
“A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20,” Trump said in a pre-recorded video taped at the White House. “My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.”
Trump’s recognition of his loss comes two months after the fact and amid growing calls for either his removal from office or a fresh impeachment.
It also came as legal questions swirled about his culpability for inciting rioters who invaded the US Capitol a day earlier.
In the video, released more than 24 hours after Wednesday’s riot, Trump made calls for “healing and reconciliation” and said the country must move forward.
But he also misstated his role in activating the National Guard to combat his supporters who stormed the Capitol, who only a day earlier he called “special.”
Earlier today, Trump issued a dark-of-night statement vowing an “orderly transition,” which came about in part to stanch a wave of resignations from within the West Wing and the broader administration.
The resignations began Wednesday with the first lady’s chief of staff, the White House social secretary, a deputy press secretary and Trump’s deputy national security adviser all exiting before the night’s end.
Other officials had been considering resigning.
And a growing number of Republican leaders and Cabinet members said Wednesday that they were considering having Trump removed from office by impeachment or through the invocation of the 25th Amendment.
But at least one person who was believed Wednesday to be considering resigning is now planning to remain in the administration.
National security adviser Robert O’Brien has told aides he now intends to remain in his post until Trump leaves office, though his plans could still change depending on how Trump approaches the day.
He made his decision before Trump released the statement.
O’Brien was persuaded to stay by other senior staffers, who expressed concern about the national security implications of a vacant post in the final days of the administration.
The statement from Trump, released through his deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino’s Twitter account at 3:50 a.m. ET, said “there will be an orderly transition on January 20” even though he disagreed with the outcome of the election.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021