The violence began after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to campaigners to make his false claim that he won the U.S. election in November.
Scenes of armed protesters breaking and crushing the Capitol – which halted the counting of election votes at Congress to confirm President Joe Biden’s victory – alarmed top diplomats all over the world. Democratic leaders embraced online harassment, describing the chaotic scenes as “shocking” and “disgraceful.”
As the riots unfolded, several foreign embassies in Washington issued home-stay notices for their citizens, and European leaders began using the language that was usually reserved for events where democratic values and rules of law are under siege. .
And on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued strong criticism against both the protesters and President Trump.
“On the United States and the election, I want to say that America has all my life stood for some very important things – the idea of freedom and the idea of democracy. And … so far it has inspired people to use the Capitol. And as long as the President has consistently questioned the outcome of a free and fair election, I believe that was completely wrong, “he said at a news conference. your journalist question.
“And what President Trump has been saying about that has been completely wrong and I am without criticism encouraging people to behave in the embarrassing way they did in the Capitol,” he said. e.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who rarely addresses issues within the allied member states, urged Americans to respect the outcome of the November election. His call was made by European Parliament President David Sassoli, who said, “We are confident that the US will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected.”
“President Trump and several members of Congress are deeply concerned about reforms,” he tweeted with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. “The democratic election process must be respected.”
But there were notes of schadenfreude in the responses from Russian and Iranian officials. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Trump a “sick person” who had embarrassed his country in a televised speech Thursday on Iranian state news agencies.
“What has happened in the U.S. demonstrates the fragility of Western democracy,” he said. “Despite their scientific and industrial achievements, we are seeing a huge impact on republicanism. When a sick person takes office, we will see how it embarrasses the country and creates problems for the world. world. ”
Russian President Vladimir Putin – who has consistently rejected America’s “one-sidedness” as a world power – made no statement about last night’s chaotic events, but lawmakers did not hold back. his back.
Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of Russia’s high-ranking foreign affairs committee, said the storm marked the deregulation of American democracy.
“The celebration of democracy is over. In fact, this is the foundation of a rock, I will say this without a hint of gloom,” Kosachev wrote on Facebook Thursday. “America no longer explains the course, so they have set out to lose all rights. And even more so to put it on others,” Kosachev said.
Kosachev said Trump had “narcissism, eccentricity and adventurism” and “Democrat and Republican impersonal political platforms” as the reasons behind the unrest.
“America is divided into halves, and the equal halves will always challenge the results of any disadvantaged ballot,” he wrote.
A lawyer from Russia’s lowest parliament and information policy committee member Anton Gorelkin praised the decision of social media platforms to limit Donald Trump’s accounts.
“Events in the United States once again demonstrate the power of social networks as tools for influencing the masses,” Gorelkin wrote on his Telegram channel.
Russian state TV anchor Evgeny Popov suddenly remarked on Twitter that “the world is exploding in the gutters. Thank God, not our world. Merry Christmas!”
Worried scenes
Allies saw chaos last night as a worrying warning for democracies, with some top leaders forcing Trump to accept the results of the 2020 free and fair U.S. election.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a meeting Thursday that the riots made her feel “angry and sad.”
“The basic rule of democracy after election is that there are winners and losers, both must play their part with aptitude and responsibility so that democracy itself remains a winner,” she said.
“I deeply regret that President Trump did not acknowledge the issue in November and again yesterday,” she said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the violence “disgraceful” and said it should be “strongly condemned,” as other Israeli political figures said it meant a warning for their country. “Injustice and violence are against the values we know of Americans and Israelis,” he said.
Gideon Saar, leader of the New Hope party on the right, and a strong opponent of Netanyahu in the March general election, said in a statement, “The events are an important reminder of the dangers involved. polarization and terrorism in society. not embracing democracy and its institutions. ”
“Canadians are deeply saddened and saddened by the onslaught of democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbor,” he tweeted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. overcoming the will of the people. U.S. democracy needs to be sustained – and it will be. “
Leaders from the Minch also responded. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the “very worrying” scenes of violence, while New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted, “What is happening is wrong. Democracy – the right of people to use a vote, have their voices heard and then have a peacefully upheld decision should not be overturned by a mob. “
Several U.S. Presidential leaders have personally held to the chagrin and his mission. “What we are seeing now from Washington is a completely inappropriate attack on democracy in the United States. It is up to President Trump to stop this. Scary, and surprisingly, that this is the United States, “wrote Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
“Terrible & sad scenes in Washington DC – we need to call this out for what it is: a deliberate attack on Democracy by the President & his supporters, which is believed to stop free & fair choice! The world is looking! We hope! to calm down, “said Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.
And Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke directly to Trump. “There are horrific images from Washington DC Dear Donald Trump, recognizing Joe Biden as the next president today.”
Some countries have warned their U.S. citizens to be wary of violence. “On January 6, there is a major protest in DC, and the local government has announced an emergency curfew,” the Chinese embassy told the U.S. in a statement, warning citizens to pay attention to the situation and “be watchful. “
After the unrest began in Washington, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also recommended that its U.S. citizens “stay away from crowded places and places where demonstrations will take place.”
Many, including leading diplomats and leaders in Iceland, France, Austria, Poland, Ecuador, Colombia and Scotland among others, reminded the US of its role as a model of democracy in the world. , and expressed disbelief about the U.S. Capitol breach – – The first time the building had been overrun by the British invasion during the War of 1812, according to Samuel Holliday, director of scholarship and operations with the Capitol Historical Society SA.
“This is not America,” wrote EU High Representative Josep Borrell, who described the movement’s actions as “an unprecedented attack on U.S. democracy, its institutions and the rule of law.”
“The U.S. Congress is a temple of democracy. Seeing scenes tonight in #WashingtonDC is a shock,” said Council of Europe President Charles Michel.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote, “I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. A peaceful transition of power is at the heart. Joe Biden won the election.”
“I look forward to working with him as the next President of the United States,” she said.
CNN’s Mary Ilyushina and Andrew Carey contributed to this report.