US Capitol Siege LIVE: Donald Trump concedes, makes way for Biden as Congress confirms win

The out-voted President pledged an “orderly” transfer of power on January 20. Starting off by saying that he ‘totally disagrees’ with the outcome, Trump went on to say that it ‘represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history’. 

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," Trump said in a statement.

"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," Trump said while reiterating the baseless claims about the US Election 2020 that led his supporters to storm the Capitol.

In the aftermath of the chaos unfolding in one of the world’s greatest economies, #CivilWar2021 started trending on microblogging website Twitter with netizens flooding the platform with memes about Donald Trump supporters storming inside US Capitol on January 6 (local time). From calling it ‘fall of America’ by using a scene from the movie ‘Mean Girls’ to including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the jokes, the internet users were seen both distressed and in splits with the turn of events in the United States.

In just the first week of 2021 after a challenging 2020, US Capitol Hill building was stormed by Donald Trump’s supporters engulfing the city in chaos. This further led the netizens to note how The Simpsons predicted the civil war. The posts with stills from the fictional animated show quickly caught Twitterati's attention and went viral. 

After more than 12 hours of Trump supporters violently breaking into the US Capitol, Congress has confirmed Electoral College vote and President-elect Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Kamala Harris will be the next US vice president

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said at a news conference said that 52 people have been arrested following the unrest at the US Capitol. The breakdown according to the chief goes as follows:

• 47 arrests were elated to curfew violations and unlawful entry
• Four people were arrested for carrying pistols without licenses
• One person was arrested for possession of prohibited weapon

Four people have already lost their lives and 14 DC Police officers have been wounded amid pro-Trump riots and demonstrations. 

The House and Senate has reconvened the joint session to resume counting the electoral ballots and certify Joe Biden's win.

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Police say four people died as Trump supporters occupied the US Capitol in Washington DC. One woman was shot by the U.S. Capitol police as a mob tried to break through a barricaded door, and three died in medical emergencies, reports The Associated Press

The woman who was shot and killed allegedly during the violent protest at the US Capitol has been identified as Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, said a report.

She was pronounced dead at an area hospital. "Yes, the adult female that was shot inside of the Capitol was pronounced dead at an area hospital," said spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck with the Metropolitan Police Department.

Video posted on social media showed a crowd inside the Capitol, a gunshot was heard and then the woman, wearing a Trump banner around her neck, lowered to the ground. She could later be seen being loaded into an ambulance with blood around her upper body, according to Washington Post.
 

Top United Nations leadership expressed sadness and concern over the violence in Washington DC by pro-Trump demonstrators who stormed the US Capitol as lawmakers gathered to certify the presidential election results.

"The Secretary-General is saddened by the events at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C," on Wednesday, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a note to correspondents.

"In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law, the UN chief said.

President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, tweeted that as president of the 193-member UN body, I'm saddened & concerned by today's developments at the Capitol in #WashingtonDC. The US is one of the world's major democracies. I believe that peace & respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time.

(PTI)

Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's chief of staff and former White House press secretary, has resigned after the violent protests in the Capitol. Grisham, one of President Trump's longest-serving aides, says it has been an ''honour'' to serve.

"History will rightly remember today's violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonour and shame for our nation."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Congress will resume the Electoral College proceedings once the Capitol is cleared of pro-Donald Trump protesters and safe for use.

Pelosi said she made the decision Wednesday in consultation with the Pentagon, the Justice Department and the vice president, who will preside.

She noted the day would always be “part of history,” but now it would be “as such a shameful picture of our country was put out into the world.”

Twitter for 1st time locks Trump's account, demands he remove tweets excusing violence, threatens 'permanent suspension.'

Former US President George W. Bush derided the rioters who forced a shutdown of the House and Senate chambers of the US Capitol on Wednesday, calling the scene "sickening and heartbreaking" in a pointed statement.

Officials declare Capitol ‘secure’ nearly 4 hours after violent pro-Trump occupiers disrupted electoral count, reports AP.

A woman who was shot during the violent pro-Trump protest inside the US Capitol has died. According to The Associated Press, two officials familiar with the matter confirmed the same on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Department said it was taking the lead on the shooting investigation. However, the police are yet to provide details about the circumstances of the shooting.

Washington DC police chief has said that Trump supporters deployed "chemical irritants" on police in order to break into the US Capitol. So far, thirteen people have been arrested in connection to the incident.

Police Chief Robert Contee informed that officials have declared the scene a riot. As per reports, one civilian was shot inside the Capitol building.  

Meanwhile, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the behaviour of the Trump supporters as "shameful, unpatriotic and above all is unlawful."

United States' acting secretary of defence, Christopher Miller, said he discussed the deployment of National Guard troops at the Capitol Hill with Mike Pence, not Donald Trump.

"Chairman Milley and I just spoke separately with the Vice President and with Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Senator Schumer and Representative Hoyer about the situation at the US Capitol," Miller said in the statement.

"We have fully activated the DC National Guard to assist federal and local law enforcement as they work to peacefully address the situation. We are prepared to provide additional support as necessary and appropriate as requested by local authorities."

Boris Johnson decried the 'disgraceful scenes' in US Capitol and called for "a peaceful and orderly transfer of power". The United Kingdom Prime Minister was one of the first global leaders to react to the events in Washington.

Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley has confirmed that Senate floor staffers saved the electoral college ballots as the chamber was evacuated.

"If our capable floor staff hadn’t grabbed them, they would have been burned by the mob," tweeted Merkley.

Moments before a mob of Trump supporters overtook the US Capitol, Republican leader Mitch McConnell warned that overturning the 2020 presidential election result would "damage our republic forever".

Democrat candidate Jon Ossoff has won the US Senate runoff race against Republican candidate David Perdue. With Ossoff and Raphael Warnock's victories, the US Senate is now tied at 50-50 while Vice-president-elect Kamala Harris will serve as the tie-breaking 51st vote, giving Democrats control of the upper house.

Twitter is not allowing users to engage with Trump's video due to a "risk of violence". In the pre-recorded video, Trump urged his supporters, some of whom stormed the US Capitol with firearms, to "go home". However, the outgoing US President blamed his opponents for the US Capitol violence and praised his supporters as "very special". 

Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Protesters walk as U.S. Capitol Police officers watch in a hallway near the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, near the Ohio Clock. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Police stand guard after holding off Trump supporters who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. Capitol Police try to hold back protesters outside the east doors to the House side of the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Police keep a watch on demonstrators who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Trump asked his supporters to "go home" so that there can be peace. In a video message shared on Twitter, Trump (yet again) made baseless claims about the election being "stolen" from him after his "landslide" victory. He pivoted to telling his supporters that "we have to have peace, we have to have law and order, we have to respect our great people in law and order. We don't want anybody hurt.”

"This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So, go home. We love you. I know how you feel. But go home and go home in peace," Trump added.

Biden denounced the US Capitol siege as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building. The US president-elect decried the "assault on the rule of law" in the "citadel of liberty".

"At this hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault, unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times," Biden is reported to have said in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Trump’s ex-acting Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, also said the President needed to instruct his supporters to “go home.”

The National Guard has been called, at President Trump's request, says the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany. she added, “We reiterate President Trump’s call against violence and to remain peaceful.”

Vice President Mike Pence said that the violence at the Capitol 'must stop now'. In a series of tweets, he said that peaceful protest is the right of every citizen. However, he also added that an attack on the capitol will not be tolerated. 

Ivanka Trump has deleted her tweet wherein she referred to violent Trump supporters storming the US Capitol as "American Patriots".

As a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol, the NATO secretary-general expressed shock at the images coming out of Washington DC. While taking to Twitter, Jens Stoltenberg said that the outcome of a democratic election must be respected. 

According to BBC, Capitol police have arrested some protesters as they continue to storm the building. Some demonstrators have broken into the Senate chamber, climbing on the side of the walls as police drew their weapons. A woman is also in critical condition after being shot in the chest, according to The Guardian.

Donald Trump has asked his supporters to “remain peaceful,” as some of them stormed the US Capitol. He didn't ask them to disperse, however, he urged them to respect the law and the "great men and women in Blue".

Pressure is mounting on President Donald Trump to condemn supporters who are violently clashing with law enforcement on Capitol Hill. Trump's former communications director, Alyssa Farah, has called on the President to condemn the actions of his supporters as they stormed the Capitol building. 

As US lawmakers moved towards certifying Joe Biden’s victory election, pro-Trump protesters breached the Capitol on Wednesday (local time), forcing the Senate to evacuate and Vice President Mike Pence to be ushered to a secure location. The frenzied scene forced Congress to abruptly pause the ceremonial event affirming Biden's sweeping win in the November 3 election and evacuate parts of the building. The doors of the Senate have now been closed and locked, while DC Mayor Muriel Browser announced a citywide curfew from 6 pm until 6 am tomorrow.

The US Vice President, who was presiding over the joint session, had defied Trump over electoral votes. The President criticised Mike Pence for not trying to circumvent the will of American voters by blocking the certification of Biden’s victory. In a tweet, he said that Pence “didn’t have the courage” to do what should have done to protect the country and constitution.