Trump Says MAGA Rioters Have 'Defiled the Seat of American Democracy'

His Twitter account restored, president says, “To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country”

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Donald Trump said on Thursday that the MAGA rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol “defiled the seat of American democracy.”

“To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country,” the president said in taped remarks tweeted from his now-restored Twitter account. “To those who broke the law, you will pay.”

Trump’s more forceful condemnation of the rioters comes a day after the president told them to “go home” but called them “great patriots,” “very special” and repeated false claims that the election was “stolen” from him in various social media posts and videos.

In Thursday’s video, which comes after Congress certified Joe Biden’s election, Trump appeared to acknowledge that his tenure as president was ending.

“A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power,” Trump said. “This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.”

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