Obama joins Bush and Clinton in condemning violence at Capitol that ‘desecrated’ chambers of democracy

Barack Obama has joined fellow former presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton in condemnation of the violence on Capitol Hill, directly calling out Donald Trump for inciting the actions of the rioters.

He wrote: “History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonour and shame for our nation.”

“But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise,” Mr Obama added.

Taking aim at the Republican Party and he accused the party and its accompanying media ecosystem of being unwilling to tell their followers the truth regarding the election and that President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on 20 January.

“Their fantasy narrative has spiralled further and further from reality, and it builds upon years of sown resentments,” Mr Obama wrote. “Now we’re seeing the consequences, whipped into a violent crescendo.”

He continued: “Right now, Republican leaders have a choice made clear in the desecrated chambers of democracy. They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires. Or they can choose reality and take the first steps toward extinguishing the flames. They can choose America.”

The former president said he was heartened to see so many members of the president’s part speak up forcefully today, adding their voices to the example of state and local election officials who refused to be intimidated by Mr Trump.

Earlier President Bush decried the riots by Trump's supporters, comparing it to how “election results are disputed in a banana republic”.

Mr Bush described the riots as "scenes of mayhem" and called it a "sickening and heartbreaking sight". 

"I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement," he said.  

He indirectly referred to Mr Trump saying that people’s passions had been “inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes”.

President Clinton said the riots were fueled by “more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another.”

He continued: “The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost.”

The former presidents were joined in their condemnation by senior figures from both sides of the aisle, including Vice President Mike Pence as he reconvened the Senate.