Priti Patel Says Donald Trump’s Words “Directly Led To Violence” And Condemns Rioters For Storming The US Capitol

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The Secretary of the Interior condemned the scenes in Washington DC last night and told BBC Breakfast that the US president "helped fuel that violence and he did nothing to de-escalate it."

Chaos and violence followed Wednesday outside the US Capitol in Washington DC, where lawmakers were busy confirming Joe Biden as president-elect.

Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected the November election results and encouraged his supporters to do the same. “We will never give up; we will never admit it, '' he told crowds in Washington shortly before rioters stormed the Capitol, leading to the deaths of four people.

"I think it is fair to say that his words were associated with violence, and his comments led directly to some of the most gruesome and horrible scenes we have all been shocked by and have all witnessed," said Patel. on Radio 4 & # 39; s Today program this morning.

"And so far he hasn't condemned that violence and I actually think that's wrong."

Trump shared two statements during Wednesday's violence, begging his supporters to leave the Capitol, but not condemning their action.

"I know your pain, I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us," he said in a video address on Twitter. "These were fraudulent elections, but we can't play into these people's hands. We need peace. So go home. We love you, you are very special. "

The UK government has been criticized for being too slow to refute baseless claims that Trump won the November election and congratulating Joe Biden on his victory.

Ms. Patel said it was time to look ahead to Joe Biden's presidency, rather than focus on whether her administration was getting too close to Mr. Trump, after being reminded of the warm words of some of her. cabinet colleagues opposite the outgoing commander in chief.

She said, "The fact is, they are now moving to a new president, to an elected president.

“The Prime Minister has already been in touch with Joe Biden and certainly congratulated him. I just think we will continue on that basis with one of our greatest allies in the world.

“This is not about going back and thinking about personal relationships.

The fact is: Donald Trump's words were associated with violence, his comments led directly to violence.

"And so far he has not condemned that violence, and that is wrong."

But Labour & # 39; s shadow secretary for State, Lisa Nandy told PoliticsHome: “The prime minister and senior members of the government have spent four years encouraging a president who consistently preached hatred and division, scapegoated minorities and attacked democracy and undermined, in a desperate attempt to become his best ally. .

"Whether it's trade, climate change or justice for Harry Dunn, it delivered absolutely nothing to Britain and deteriorated our reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world."

Boris Johnson called the scenes "shameful" on Wednesday night. The Prime Minister tweeted: "The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there is a peaceful and orderly transfer of power."

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer called it "a direct attack on democracy and lawmakers carrying out the will of the American people."

And in response to the violence in Washington, where one woman was shot and killed and three others died, Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Trump administration was "a dark period in America's history."

She told ITV & # 39; s Good Morning Britain: “On a level, I think what happened last night, what we saw last night, is not that surprising.

In a way, Donald Trump's presidency is on its way to this moment, almost from the moment it started, but that doesn't make it any less shocking.

“ What we saw were not only scenes of terrible violations of law and order, people taking over the seat of democracy, we even witnessed the President of the United States inciting insurrection in his own country and I think that it is some time for many people to think about it. "