Three former US presidents condemned the storming of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump yesterday to the Congress building to halt the presidential election ratification session.
Former presidents considered what happened an act "befitting the banana republics."
Former Democratic President Barack Obama said Wednesday's violence that took place on the Capitol building when Trump supporters stormed it was "shameful" but not "surprising."
"History will remember the violence that took place today on the Capitol, instigated by a president who lied relentlessly about the election result, as a moment of shame and disgrace for our country," Obama said in a statement.
"We will deceive ourselves if we say that what happened was a complete surprise," he added, blaming Republican Party leaders and loyal media outlets because they were often unwilling to tell their followers the fact that "Biden won a big victory in the elections that took place last November." Trump still refuses to admit his defeat in it.
An assault on the constitution
For his part, former Democratic President Bill Clinton condemned the storming of the headquarters of Congress by Trump supporters, saying that there was an "unprecedented attack" on American institutions.
"Today we faced an unprecedented assault on the Capitol, our constitution and our country," Clinton said in a statement, saying that this attack was fueled by "4 years of poisonous policies" and deliberate misinformation.
He added that "the fuse was lit by Trump and his most enthusiastic supporters, many of them in Congress, with the aim of canceling the election results that he lost."
Trump still refuses to concede his defeat in the presidential election to Biden, who will receive the keys to the White House on January 20.
Supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday, and confrontations took place between them and the security forces, killing 4 people, including a woman, and disrupting a session held by Congress to confirm Biden's victory.
Former Republican President George W. Bush also launched a violent attack on the Republican leaders who fueled the "rebellion" that took place in the Capitol building on Wednesday, which befits "the banana republics and not our democratic republic."
"This is how the election results are being challenged in banana republics, but not in our democratic republic," Bush said in a statement.
Pence presides over the joint session of Congress to ratify Biden's election as President of the United States (Al Jazeera)
No indulgence
"I have been appalled by the irresponsible behavior of some political leaders since the elections and the lack of respect that appeared today towards our institutions, our traditions and our security forces," Bush added.
On the other hand, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the storming of the Congress headquarters, saying that electoral violence "cannot be tolerated," neither in the United States nor abroad.
Pompeo said in a tweet on Twitter, "I have traveled to many countries and have always supported the right of every person to peacefully demonstrate in defense of his beliefs or issues."
"But violence threatening the safety of others, including those responsible for ensuring our all safety, is a matter that cannot be tolerated, neither at home nor abroad," he added.