The breach of the U.S. Capitol carried out by a mob of President Trump’s supporters has roiled Washington, D.C., prompting calls for the president’s swift removal. Both subjects are expected to dominate this weeks’ Sunday talk shows.
Washington continues to grapple with the fallout of the Capitol breach, which occurred as Congress was in the process of certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
Trump on Wednesday gave a speech at a rally of his supporters on the National Mall in which he encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and demand that Congress only count the electors who were “lawfully slated.”
Following his remarks, a mob of his supporters breached security at the Capitol and made their way toward both chambers of Congress, forcing media, lawmakers and Capitol staff to evacuate.
The evacuation halted a debate about an objection to Arizona’s electors brought by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Az.), who will appear on “America This Week” with Eric Bolling.
Rioters did damage to the Capitol along the way including breaking windows, breaking into offices and defacing statues. Five people ultimately died, including a Capitol police officer and a woman who was shot inside the Capitol.
Shortly after 8 p.m., the two chambers were able to reconvene and the Electoral College vote was certified in the early hours of Thursday morning. Dozens of arrests have been made, and federal charges have been brought on at least 13 rioters.
Only after the events on Wednesday did Trump condemn the violence in a video Thursday after Congress certified Biden’s victory. He said there would be “an orderly transition of power” on Jan. 20.
Prior to his Thursday video statement, the president said, “we will never never concede,” and in two separate tweets encouraged rioters to go home but repeated unsupported claims of widespread voter fraud.
Multiple Democrats and some GOP officials have called for Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, which Pence reportedly opposes. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who will appear on ABC’s “This Week,” was the first GOP lawmaker to call for Pence to invoke the amendment.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) threatened that the House will impeach Trump a second time if the 25th amendment isn’t invoked.
Multiple Administration officials resigned in the wake of the riots, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) blasted their resignations on Friday, saying they were “running away form their responsibilities” to invoke the 25th Amendment.
Clyburn will appear on “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday.”
Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who will also appear on “Fox News Sunday” as well as “Meet the Press,” resigned from his role as special envoy to Northern Ireland on Thursday.
“I can’t stay here, not after yesterday,” Mulvaney said in an appearance on CNBC. “You can’t look at that yesterday and say I want to be a part of that in any way shape or form.”
Below is the full list of guests who will appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:
ABC’s “This Week” — Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezn (D-N.Y.) and Adam Kinzinger, (R-Ill.)
NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.); Rep. Hakeem Jeffries ( D-N.Y.); Mick Mulvaney, a former chief of staff to President Donald Trump.
CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Chris Coons, (D-Del.); Mayor Muriel Bowser of the District of Columbia; Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner.
CNN’s “State of the Union” — Toomey, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.); Clyburn, Gov. Larry Hogan, R-Md.
“Fox News Sunday” — Clyburn; Mulvaney.
Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures”: Sen Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Acting Chairman of the Senate Intel Committee; Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Ranking Member House Intel Committee; Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.); House Homeland Security Committee; Rep. Vernon Jones (D-Ga.), Georgia House of Representatives; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee; Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law Professor Emeritus
“American This Week” with Eric Bolling — Dave Rubin; Corey Lewandowski; Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Rep Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)