U.S. on Tenterhooks on Biden’s Inauguration
DALTON, Ga. (Kayhan Intl.) — With mounting desperation, Donald Trump declared he would "fight like hell” to hold on to the presidency and appealed to Republican lawmakers to reverse his election loss to Joe Biden when they convene this week to confirm the Electoral College vote.
Electoral voters won by President-elect Biden are "not gonna take this White House!” he shouted as supporters cheered at an outdoor rally Monday night in Georgia. Trump’s announced purpose for the trip was to boost Republican Senate candidates in Tuesday’s runoff election, but he spent much of his speech complaining bitterly about his election loss — which he insists he won "by a lot.”
Earlier, in Washington, he pressed Republican lawmakers to formally object Wednesday at a joint session of Congress that is to confirm Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, itself a confirmation of Biden’s nationwide victory Nov. 3.
Though he got nothing but cheers Monday night, Trump’s attempt to overturn the presidential election is splitting the Republican Party. Some GOP lawmakers backing him are rushing ahead, despite an outpouring of condemnation from current and former party officials warning the effort is undermining Americans’ faith in democracy. All 10 living former defense secretaries wrote in an op-ed that "the time for questioning the results has passed.”
It’s unclear the extent to which GOP leaders in Congress will be able to control Wednesday’s joint session, which could drag into the night, though the challenges to the election are all but certain to fail. Trump himself is whipping up crowds for a Wednesday rally near the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is under pressure to tip the results for Trump, will be closely watched as he presides in a ceremonial role over Wednesday’s joint session.
Trump said in Georgia: "I hope that our great vice president comes through for us. He’s a great guy. Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much.”
He added, "No, Mike is a great guy.”
City officials in Washington warned Trump’s supporters not to bring guns to protests against congressional certification of his election defeat and enlisted hundreds of National Guard troops to help keep order.
"We have received some information that there are individuals intent on bringing firearms into our city and that just will not be tolerated,” Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told a City Hall news conference, adding that anyone found doing so or provoking violence would be arrested.
More than 300 troops will be on hand to support the city government, providing crowd control and aiding fire and rescue services, the D.C. National Guard said in a statement on Monday. They will be joined by the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police and U.S. Secret Service, Contee said.
The District has some of the United States’ strictest gun laws, and forbids open carry of weapons or possession of a handgun without a local license.
Thousands of Trump supporters, including some far-right nationalist groups that openly carry arms at protests elsewhere, are expected to converge on the U.S. capital starting on Tuesday to oppose Congress’ certification the next day of the Republican president’s Nov. 3 election loss to Biden.
Contee said the protests could be bigger than November and December rallies marred by stabbings and brawls as hundreds of Proud Boys, a group of self-described "Western chauvinists,” and other Trump loyalists clashed with counter-protesters, and sought fights with antifa, or anti-fascists, and Black Lives Matter activists.
On Monday, Metropolitan police arrested Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique” Tarrio, and charged him with destruction of property related to an earlier protest. Tarrio was "in possession of two high capacity firearm magazines” at the time of arrest, a police statement said, and charged with that possession offense as well.
Trump summoned supporters to this week’s gatherings, saying on Twitter on Sunday that "I will be there,” and on Friday that "it will be wild.” Several rallies are planned for Wednesday, including one outside the U.S. Congress.
Before his arrest, Proud Boys’ Tarrio said on social media that "record numbers” of members would attend, suggesting that they may dress in all black like antifa activists. "We will be incognito and we will spread across downtown DC in smaller teams,” he said.
The Hotel Harrington and the attached Harry’s Bar, popular Proud Boys gathering spots during previous protests, will close on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Earlier, in Washington, he pressed Republican lawmakers to formally object Wednesday at a joint session of Congress that is to confirm Biden’s victory in the Electoral College, itself a confirmation of Biden’s nationwide victory Nov. 3.
Though he got nothing but cheers Monday night, Trump’s attempt to overturn the presidential election is splitting the Republican Party. Some GOP lawmakers backing him are rushing ahead, despite an outpouring of condemnation from current and former party officials warning the effort is undermining Americans’ faith in democracy. All 10 living former defense secretaries wrote in an op-ed that "the time for questioning the results has passed.”
It’s unclear the extent to which GOP leaders in Congress will be able to control Wednesday’s joint session, which could drag into the night, though the challenges to the election are all but certain to fail. Trump himself is whipping up crowds for a Wednesday rally near the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is under pressure to tip the results for Trump, will be closely watched as he presides in a ceremonial role over Wednesday’s joint session.
Trump said in Georgia: "I hope that our great vice president comes through for us. He’s a great guy. Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much.”
He added, "No, Mike is a great guy.”
City officials in Washington warned Trump’s supporters not to bring guns to protests against congressional certification of his election defeat and enlisted hundreds of National Guard troops to help keep order.
"We have received some information that there are individuals intent on bringing firearms into our city and that just will not be tolerated,” Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee told a City Hall news conference, adding that anyone found doing so or provoking violence would be arrested.
More than 300 troops will be on hand to support the city government, providing crowd control and aiding fire and rescue services, the D.C. National Guard said in a statement on Monday. They will be joined by the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police and U.S. Secret Service, Contee said.
The District has some of the United States’ strictest gun laws, and forbids open carry of weapons or possession of a handgun without a local license.
Thousands of Trump supporters, including some far-right nationalist groups that openly carry arms at protests elsewhere, are expected to converge on the U.S. capital starting on Tuesday to oppose Congress’ certification the next day of the Republican president’s Nov. 3 election loss to Biden.
Contee said the protests could be bigger than November and December rallies marred by stabbings and brawls as hundreds of Proud Boys, a group of self-described "Western chauvinists,” and other Trump loyalists clashed with counter-protesters, and sought fights with antifa, or anti-fascists, and Black Lives Matter activists.
On Monday, Metropolitan police arrested Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique” Tarrio, and charged him with destruction of property related to an earlier protest. Tarrio was "in possession of two high capacity firearm magazines” at the time of arrest, a police statement said, and charged with that possession offense as well.
Trump summoned supporters to this week’s gatherings, saying on Twitter on Sunday that "I will be there,” and on Friday that "it will be wild.” Several rallies are planned for Wednesday, including one outside the U.S. Congress.
Before his arrest, Proud Boys’ Tarrio said on social media that "record numbers” of members would attend, suggesting that they may dress in all black like antifa activists. "We will be incognito and we will spread across downtown DC in smaller teams,” he said.
The Hotel Harrington and the attached Harry’s Bar, popular Proud Boys gathering spots during previous protests, will close on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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