A shameful day

President Trump seems determined to leave office in a manner that vindicates the vile accusations hurled at him by his opponents over the past four years. After a speech rehearsing his electoral grievances and calling on his vice president to abrogate his ministerial duty today, some of the assembled multitude followed the logic of Trump’s grievances and stormed the Capitol.

The House and Senate chambers have been breached. Someone has been shot inside the Capitol. The presidential election certification proceedings have been interrupted.

Events have a revolutionary feel. Where’s Trump? Trump has tweeted asking for peace, but is otherwise missing in action at present.

President Trump apparently has no family or friends who can talk him out of the course he has chosen to follow. Order will be restored, but not before the stench of disgrace has attached itself to President Trump for his part in this shameful day.

UPDATE: President Trump has released a recorded statement reiterating his grievances and asking his supporters to go home. This is a transcript:

I know your pain, I know you’re hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now. 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.

It’s a very tough period of time. There’s never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us — from me, from you, from our country. 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. You’re very special. You’ve seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil.

I know how you feel, but go home, and go home in peace.

C-SPAN has posted video of the statement here.

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