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Trump urges healing and pledges smooth transition of power

58 Comments
By MANDEL NGAN

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58 Comments

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You started it Trump. No "yes" men are going to be able to save you from your own actions.

29 ( +34 / -5 )

He also said he was "Defending democracy for the American people."

The lie. The one he continues to push that his supporters cling on to for their anger. The one certain GOP Senators continue to knowingly put forward to advance their careers. As long as the lie continues on, there will be none of the other things Trump claims to want.

29 ( +33 / -4 )

Orange Man Sad...

20 ( +24 / -4 )

Yes, we believe you.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

You can start by resigning.

25 ( +29 / -4 )

Not a single word of that speech was written by him, and you could see how uncomfortable he was in the video as he read it. His voice was monotone, and he kept shifting himself side to side, hiking up a shoulder as he shrunk inward at every new 'difficult' part for him to read.

I'll lay a bet that it took at least a half hour of missed takes for him to get that 2 minute speech read without cringing or wheeling off into ranting ad hoc garbage.

For god's sake, he couldn't even get 10 seconds into it before he lied. He called in the National Guard? Don't make me laugh. Mike Pence called in the National Guard after nobody could get ahold of Donald because he was throwing a temper tantrum and pouting in the Oval Office.

32 ( +35 / -3 )

“I think that video was done only because almost all his senior staff was about to resign, and impeachment is imminent,” a White House adviser said.

“That message and tone should have been relayed election night...not after people died,” the adviser added.

I think this comment helps add a bit of context to Trump’s message.

The truth is he’s running scared, as he should be...

26 ( +29 / -3 )

He should be saying, 'I apologize for being the leader of the terrorism I caused at the Capitol, an unprecedented act in modern America. An attempted coup, I did not orchestrate, directly, but as President, should have denounced quickly and emphatically, and it is solely my responsibility for agitating my followers'.

'I resign, and regret being the worst president, ever'

22 ( +26 / -4 )

Democracy is 51% gloating and 49% angry.

why I love China, everybody is happy.

-31 ( +2 / -33 )

My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. 

Like others have said, not a single word Trump says can be trusted. He, his fellow Republicans and his base have done more damage to the US than any foreign power or anti-American group ever has. And to think there are anti-democracy, anti-American politicians like Ted Cruz in office who can continue Trump's path of destruction. While they and their corporate backers get richer and the wealth gap widens.

18 ( +20 / -2 )

On April 8th, Biden articles will still be filled with comments about Trump. I am even willing to move that wager to July 8th. Even after Kamala takes over a year or 2 later.

Not much difference from all the comments about Obama, then.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

U.S. President Donald Trump appealed for "healing and reconciliation" Thursday following unprecedented scenes of violence at the U.S. Capitol

Unprecedented (but not unexpected) scenes that he incited.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

The disturbing thing is, we all followed him and experienced his words and actions and understand what he has done. However, he thinks we believe what he says after the fact. I will continue to watch him and his downfall. He is a monster. A manipulator. And an evil thing in the White House. We love you too trump.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

It depends on your definition of "smooth".

9 ( +11 / -2 )

The truth is he’s running scared, as he should be...

I can't work out if he is scared of impeachment, removal from office, future imprisonment or not being able to tweet anymore. Probably the tweeting bit.

19 ( +21 / -2 )

Lock him up.

17 ( +20 / -3 )

Clearly he is NOT reading anything HE wrote or thinks........

The ONLY +ve thing he could do at this point in time is to take HIMSELF out of office, resign in the disgrace he is & take a bunch of those hardcore daft repubs with you!!

18 ( +19 / -1 )

It is pretty funny how alt-righters are already cannibalizing Trump after he waved the white flag during during his speech. It looks like this movement won't end with a new president, either.

18 ( +19 / -1 )

Trump is worried that if he got booted for sedition, it would prove beyond a doubt that he was the worst and most inept president in the history of America. At least if he can survive until the end of his term, he can try to deny it.

It's not like he suddenly had a change of heart. Remember, he wasn't a follower of the seditionists, he's the leader who incited them into it. Now he's realized he might get in trouble for that, he's cowering like a scared child.

Lucky for him, the Pubs are worried that if he goes down for sedition, it will expose their enabling of him and his policies for the past four years. So in spite of Pence wanting to distance himself from Toxic Trump, he's still protecting him this one last time.

Yay for democracy.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

David VarnesToday 11:00 am JST

Not a single word of that speech was written by him, and you could see how uncomfortable he was in the video as he read it.

Perhaps it had been impressed on him that if he didn't the Cabinet would invoke Article 25 or the GOP Senators would actually vote to impeach and convict this time.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Not much difference from all the comments about Obama, then.

Or Hillary. Most of this stems from their anger that America dared elect first a black man, then even consider the idea of a woman for president.

They weren't willing to let that rest. End result: yesterday.

19 ( +20 / -1 )

Trump probably didn't actually think his rabid followers were that unhinged until yesterday. After what happened, he's probably a bit afraid now of what he has unleashed.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

Trump released the video following growing calls for his removal after his fired-up supporters breached the Capitol Wednesday and sent lawmakers scrambling for safety.

Except FB and Twitter deleted it.

Egged on by an aggrieved Trump speech, a flag-waving mob broke though barricades and swarmed inside the Capitol, ransacking offices and entering the usually solemn legislative floors.

And not mentioning the thousands of peaceful protestors who turned up and did not feel "Egged on by an aggrieved Trump".

A lot of inconvenient truths missing from the news.

At least now the news can correctly report the term "Joe Bidden President-elect"

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Perhaps it had been impressed on him that if he didn't the Cabinet would invoke Article 25 or the GOP Senators would actually vote to impeach and convict this time.

Sadly Simon, while Donald Trump deserves to be removed from office, I don't think it would happen. Article 25 demands a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress if Trump objects (which he would). While that might squeak through the Senate (no guarantee, sadly), that would requite 290 votes in the House.

Only 283 House members voted 'no' on the objections. Even AFTER the riots and the sedition, only 283 House members said 'no' to Trump.

Finding those other 7 votes would be impossible in the modern Republican party. And impeachment would get bogged down in the weeds of procedure until it was a moot point.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

Trump probably didn't actually think his rabid followers were that unhinged until yesterday.

Um....

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters”

He knew.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

A new AG, will make you concede immediately

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Finding those other 7 votes would be impossible in the modern Republican party. And impeachment would get bogged down in the weeds of procedure until it was a moot point.

It should be done for posterity's sake.

Let the people of the future know that this man was so inept, that he was impeached almost as many times as all the presidents cumulatively before him.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Desperately back pedalling. The coup failed, now he’s desperate to save himself.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Trump overplayed his hand. He has no choice but to recede now.

Too bad he cannot bring back four lives lost when he did nothing but incite sedition and play golf after the elections.

I guess he cannot fathom being removed from office, 12 days before he steps down whether he likes it or not.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

I wonder if Putin talked to him and said 'ok, maybe you've taken it a little bit too far...'

15 ( +17 / -2 )

David VarnesToday  11:46 am JST

Sadly Simon, while Donald Trump deserves to be removed from office, I don't think it would happen.

I'm sure you are right. Donald Trump doesn't seem to be that smart though, or know a whole lot about how the government works. He thought Mike Pence could overturn the election results for him, who knows what else he could be convinced of?

15 ( +16 / -1 )

You gotta love that Ivanka and Jerrod are persona non grata in America now.

And the stench of this will never get off the hands of Little Trump. The people know he pushed the people to sedition the morning of the riots.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

the Pubs are worried that if he goes down for sedition, it will expose their enabling of him and his policies for the past four years. 

I find Lindsey Graham the poster child for this statement.

He was John McCain's lackey, turned on him as soon as Trump became President, became his loyal minion to the end, until he wasn't, when 'enough is enough'. An attempted coup can do that, even to the staunchest of 'worst of the worst'.

Damn these Benedict Donald enablers!

22 ( +22 / -0 )

That looked like a hostage video.

I can't work out if he is scared of impeachment, removal from office, future imprisonment or not being able to tweet anymore. Probably the tweeting bit.

All of the above.

Like all bullies, Trump is a coward at heart. When stood up to, he quickly cowers. That’s what this video is, a quick retreat and an attempt to whitewash. We saw what he said yesterday. We are not going to forget. Trump, Jr. and Rudy all have serious criminal liability.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

The fear of prison is driving trump and his klan crazy.

All the people who gave speeches in DC on Jan 6th better lawyer up, fast.

Their bigot sympathizers are trying to distance themselves with this pack and prison time is a real possibility now!!!

15 ( +15 / -0 )

CORRECTION

klausdorthToday  10:54 am JST

"This moment calls for healing and reconciliation"

He definitely doesn't know what he is talking about!

Or is he getting scared? Trying to get some bonus points or a "get out of jail" card?

I think it will be more like "Go to Jail" on the Monopoly board!

He started all this, he supported it, he asked for it!

Healing from what? All the mayhem, debauchery at the nation's expense, gross ego, hate crimes, violence inspired by his hateful lippy sass, personality cult, dictatorship, insurrection - and NOW he's just saying, 'Uhhh, I didn't meeean it. Sooorryy...'. Just like a 2nd grade kid.

Apology NOT accepted, TraitorTrashTrump! You are not worthy to tongue-lick the wheels of a wheelchair after the user that you mock openly has just rolled into a handicapped stall to use the restroom. You are not worthy to crawlon your hands and knees and scoop up fresh dog poop with your hands. You are lower than the belly of a pregnant queen ant.

Donald Trump has no right, no privledge whatsoever from the Lord to say anything after his hateful violent act of treason yesterday. The only answer to this political scourge is to LOCK HIM UP - NOW!!!!! No negotiations, no bargains. Put this traitor away!!!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

He is absolutely cacking himself.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Not so much brown shirts, more brown pants for him and the thugs.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

I never want to hear from, of, or about Trump ever again after January 20th.

Good riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

After the Capitol violence, the outgoing leader now appears calm and pacified. Has he really come to his senses this time, willing to hand over power without further hassle? One cannot be too sure though. 12 more days to go..

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I pity his fans. Has he even acknowledged the people who died yesterday?

11 ( +11 / -0 )

He said he was going to march with them to the Capitol

then went back to the WH, where he encouraged them on

twitter, said he loves them and now he's criticizing the actions

he endorsed and acts like he had no part of it.

How do his supporters feel now?

He had you do his dirty work w/o getting his own hands

dirty and since it didn't work out the way he wanted he's throwing

you all away like yesterdays garbage.

Typical Trump!!

But why can't these folks see through this??

12 ( +12 / -0 )

But why can't these folks see through this??

They can, they just played stupid because they thought it would allow them to maintain their power and push the ideology that America has decided it doesn't want, seven out of the past eight elections.

Two Bushes and a Trump. Real crew of winners there.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Trump probably didn't actually think his rabid followers were that unhinged until yesterday.

Um....

“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters”

He knew.

Lol. Trump also said, " we going to walk to the Capital, and I'm going to be with you..." But did he? No, because Trump is all talk unlike the lunatics who follow him.

Trump realized that if these lunatics ever turn on him, they'll be coming for him.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Sorry to just repeat here but it bears repeating:

What an incredible, two faced loser these Trumps are!!

Just yesterday: ‘march down to the capital!’

’you can be a hero, or a zero!’

’trial by combat!’ -Rudy.

Today: HEALING!!!?

Give us a break.

Imprison all of those fools America.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

How low can you go? Invoke 25th n charge this crazy(sorry ed.) before he does idiot things again.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Trump has been forced into a corner and into giving the very first "presidential" speech of his four year term in office. It had Trump speaking of healing and unity, concepts until now that were foreign to him. A clearly subdued and beaten man, Trump has confirmed that the transition of office will go ahead on the 20th and he will no longer be President.

With the damage he has done to the American nation, it's reputation and standing around the world is at it's lowest point since it was a British colony. He finally mentioned the bad 2020, the Pandemic and its losses and the damage it has had on America and it's people.

Four years too late Mr President. And it may not be enough to save you from the additional disgrace of being removed from office days before your term is due to end.

What a doofus.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

That was one hell of a promo he cut.

Nothing but lies and contradictions. LOL.

Did he think we forgot the last 4 years?

He started the whole thing!!!

11 ( +11 / -0 )

This moment calls for healing and reconciliation

After years of seeking confrontation?  After years of supporting racists mobs?  After years of degenerating and insulting anyone who did not blindly support you?

And now, NOW!, you want healing and conciliation?  Mr Trump, do you see that writing on the wall?  That is your legacy.  You  sick, evil, man.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

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