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Washington (AP) - After some hesitation, the incumbent US President Donald Trump sharply condemned the riots of his supporters at the Capitol.
"Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and chaos," said Trump in a video message he distributed on Twitter on Thursday evening (local time).
He spoke of a "hideous attack" on the Congress headquarters.
Those who used violence did not represent the country.
And those who broke the law would pay for it, Trump said.
It is time for "healing and reconciliation".
Angry supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol in the US capital Washington on Wednesday in an unprecedented escalation of violence after the US President incited them at a mass rally with allegations of alleged fraud in the presidential election.
This caused horror both nationally and internationally.
Trump initially did not condemn the riots on Wednesday, but rather drew further criticism with controversial Twitter messages.
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Trump had called his supporters on Wednesday - also via video clip - to withdraw.
At the same time he said to her address: "We love you" and he renewed his allegations of election fraud.
He later wrote in another tweet that such “things and happenings” just happened when a landslide victory was stolen.
Twitter blocked the president's account for twelve hours.
His emphatically conciliatory message was now Trump's first Twitter request after the lock.
Trump also promised again not to stand in the way of the handover to President-elect Joe Biden.
"A new administration will be sworn in," said Trump.
"I am now concentrating on ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transfer of power."
Serving the country as president was the honor of his life.
The Republican had clearly lost the November presidential election to his Democratic challenger Biden.
Until recently, however, Trump fought against accepting defeat by all means.
The protests of his supporters were directed against the certification of the election result in Congress.
The two chambers of congress officially confirmed Biden's victory despite the riots early Thursday morning (local time).
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