As Congress was in the midst of certifying the 2020 presidential election results, a mob of people, made up of President Donald Trump‘s supporters, stormed the U.S. Capitol building, which is where the certification process was taking place. In response to this incident, Trump released a video calling for his supporters to “go home.” However, he also stressed that the election was “stolen” from him and, quite unbelievably, shared his “love” for those who were causing the violence at the Capitol. Naturally, the fact he was sending “love” to the individuals who were causing this chaotic scene did not sit well with many Americans.
On Twitter, Trump released a video in which he spoke directly to his supporters. (Twitter has subsequently removed the video for violating the platform’s Civic Integrity policy.) In the clip, the president empathized with his supporters, telling them, “I know your pain; I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side.” Even though he called for “peace” in the video and for those individuals to “go home,” he still claimed, without evidence, that the election was “stolen” from him and those who support him.
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“There’s never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us โ from me, from you, from our country,” Trump continued. “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’ve seen how others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But, go home and go home in peace.” Of course, since the president was vocally offering his “love” to these “special” rioters, social media users took Trump to task for his statements.
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saw this and heard this with my own eyes and ears and i am still having a hard time believing it https://t.co/DyGSUX89V3
โ kelsey (@kelseydetoro) January 6, 2021
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This is so disgusting. Beyond this is just the idea of “go home”… Go home in peace, white privilege at it’s finest. https://t.co/M7KMoxvl0x
โ USCGwife (@USCGwife422) January 6, 2021
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Trump’s quote “Go Home, we love you, you’re very special.
โ Paul Green (@Paul4GunSense) January 6, 2021
So Trump thinks that supporters who engage in insurrection are very special and he loves them. Trump’s support for criminal activity and disrespect for Democracy is staggering. #civilwar2021 #LockHimUpNow pic.twitter.com/1lLINItYbP
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#Trump, May 2020: “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” #Trump, Today: โI know your pain. I know your hurt. But you have to go home now… We love you. Youโre very special.โ pic.twitter.com/85TN5cEgWI
โ Liam Pesce (@liamoftheyear) January 6, 2021
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โWe love you, youโre very specialโ
โ Grandpa (@BriannaBouchie) January 6, 2021
–@realDonaldTrump regarding the Terrorists that stormed our capitol (resulting in one death already) Today.
January, 6th 2021.
I am going to be sick.
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โWe love you and you are special.โ –@realDonaldTrump on the terrorists today in our capitol, but tweeted this back last year pic.twitter.com/KnlxRVrWmA
โ Zac Beck (@ZacBeck) January 6, 2021
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itโs just disappointing at this point i have no words :/ https://t.co/aIrOuyoDIE
โ charleaf (@charleafsnail) January 6, 2021