Former President Barack Obama on Wednesday night blamed the day’s chaos at the US Capitol on President Trump, saying it will be marked in history “as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation.”
In a statement posted to his official Twitter account, Obama laid blame to the mayhem directly on Trump, the Republican party and the media for spreading a “fantasy narrative.”
“History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonor and shame for our nation. But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise,” Obama said.
“For two months now, a political party and its accompanying media ecosystem has too often been unwilling to tell their truth — that this was not a particularly close election and that President-Elect Biden will be inaugurated on January 20.
“Their fantasy narrative has spiraled further and further from reality, and it builds upon years of sown resentment. Now we’re seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo,” Obama wrote.
He said Republicans can either continue to perpetuate the chaos, or help put an end to the division. “They can choose America,” Obama said.
While critical of the GOP party, Obama also said he was “heartened” to see some members today voice their opposition to what unfolded.
“We need more leaders like these — right now and in the days, weeks, and months ahead as President-Elect Biden works to restore a common purpose to our politics. It is up to all of us as Americans, regardless of party, to support him in that goal,” he said.
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