A number of White House employees announced their resignation from their posts in protest against the storming of Congress before it was convened to ratify the presidency of Joe Biden, while Republican officials condemned the storming.
The House of Representatives and the Senate approved the victory of Joe Biden in the US presidential election, with a majority of 306 of the electoral college votes, compared to 232 for Donald Trump.
The ratification came after Congress rejected appeals to the presidential election results, which were filed by Republican lawmakers.
Congress has resumed the confirmation process for Biden after the end of the storming of the Capitol, by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump.
In a tacit acknowledgment of the defeat, Trump said - in a statement posted on the account of the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications on Twitter - that he pledged an orderly transfer of power on January 20, despite what he called his disapproval of the election result.
Trump added that the transfer of power marks the end of the greatest first period in the history of the presidency, considering it at the same time the beginning of the battle to make America great again.
Yesterday afternoon, Wednesday afternoon in the United States time, pro-Trump demonstrators stormed the Capitol building, disrupting the confirmation session for Biden’s victory in the presidency, and confrontations took place between them and the security forces, and chaos reigned that ended with the killing of 4 people, and parliamentarians were forced to take shelter until security reinforcements arrived, and control of the building was restored. After about 4 hours.
Trump supporters stormed the building after they took part in a demonstration near the White House called by the outgoing president to protest his election defeat, which he still insists was "stolen" from him.
Resignations
In protest against the incursion, a number of Trump employees announced their resignation from their posts, most notably Matt Pottinger, deputy national security advisor.
Sarah Matthews, a deputy spokeswoman for the White House, announced her resignation, noting that the United States deserves a peaceful transfer of power.
ABC reported that White House Social Affairs Secretary Ricky Nisita had also resigned from her position in protest at the Trump supporters' storming of the Capitol.
Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff in the office of First Lady Melania Trump, announced her resignation from her position.
And CNBC reported that the US special envoy for Northern Ireland and former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Molfini has resigned from the Trump administration, in protest of the violence in the Congress building.
Republican criticism
In the context of the responses of some Republican officials to the events in Congress, President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani said that the issue is to obtain a fair vote and end election fraud before it becomes a permanent tactic in the hands of those who can and the Democratic Party that is protected by the media, he said.
Giuliani added - in tweets - that violence is unacceptable, condemned, and unconstructive, and made clear that the participation of the "Antifa" movement is not justified, and that this contradicts principles.
Giuliani said the violence in Congress was disgraceful and a criminal act, such as the riots and looting that occurred last summer, and it was not condemned enough by the left.
He pointed out that this violence was condemned in the strongest terms, and added that his movement respects law, order and the police.
In turn, US Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin assured that the events that took place in Congress are unacceptable, and that democracy will prevail in the United States.
Mnuchin called - in a speech that opened his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem - the American community for unity and respect for the democratic process.
In this context, Republican Senator Marco Rubio said on Twitter, "The election process for 2020 is complete, and regardless of who we voted for, it is time to turn the page. Joe Biden is now the officially elected US president. God bless and protect our country and our next president."
As for Health Minister Alex Azar, he said that his ministry is still committed to a peaceful and orderly transfer of power during the remaining days, confirming that more than 300 meetings with the Biden team have been organized.
In the Senate, Vice Trump, Mike Pence, began the Biden confirmation session by denouncing the "acts of violence" witnessed by the Congress, and expressing his regret for this "dark day."
"Even after the unprecedented acts of violence and sabotage at this Capitol building, these elected representatives of the American people meet again on the same day to defend the constitution," Pence said.
Republican Senator Mitt Romney did not hesitate to hold Trump responsible for what happened.
"What happened today is a rebellion at the instigation of the president of the United States," said Romney - who has repeatedly criticized Trump.