Policy and Legal

Following the swift and loud condemnations—from across the country—after a violent mob stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, President Trump took to social media last night for a course correction and issued a concession speech, according to The Associated Press.

• “In a new video message Thursday, Trump says that now that Congress has certified the results, the ‘new administration will be inaugurated on January 20’ and his ‘focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power.’”
• “He also spoke out against the violence, calling it a ‘heinous attack’ that left him ‘outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem.’”

The toll: A Capitol police officer became the fifth fatality of the attack. The officer died from injuries sustained when an extremist hit him with a fire extinguisher during the riots, according to NPR.

The business response: Many manufacturing CEOs continue to sound the alarm about the risks to the nation’s stability and security created by Wednesday’s attack:

• NAM Board Chair and Trane Technologies Chairman and CEO Mike Lamach called for unity, stability and a peaceful transfer of power in a statement yesterday: “It’s essential to the men and women of the manufacturing community that we uphold and preserve the strength of our democracy. As leaders, we believe it’s time to move past divisiveness and accelerate economic recovery, job creation and the health and well-being of all people as we move forward as a nation.”
• “We condemn the disturbing and horrifying storming of the U.S. Capitol,” said Stanley Black & Decker President and CEO Jim Loree. “With President-elect Joe Biden rightfully certified as the 46th POTUS, we call on all Americans to persevere and move forward with a peaceful transition of power.”
• “We applaud all those who stood strong to thwart an appalling insurrection bent on blocking the peaceful transfer of power following a free and fair election,” said AT&T CEO John Stankey.
• “The vote of the people and the peaceful transition of government are core to our democracy . . . we encourage [elected officials] to work with President-elect Biden to unify our nation,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun.
• “The middle, the saner part of America and the world’s got to step up and say: Enough,” said Dave Petratis, CEO of security products manufacturer Allegion PLC, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription). Petratis also said that he supported the NAM’s statement in response to the attack.

In addition, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board took the rare step of calling for the president to resign from office:

• “This was an assault on the constitutional process of transferring power after an election. It was also an assault on the legislature from an executive sworn to uphold the laws of the United States.… In our view, it crosses a constitutional line that Mr. Trump hasn’t previously crossed.”

The political response: National leaders are focusing on safeguarding the nation’s key institutions during the last 12 days of the administration.

• Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have begun circulating articles of impeachment, according to USA Today.
• Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois—a military veteran—became the leading House Republican to voice his support for removing the president from office.

An exodus begins: Key leaders in the Trump administration have resigned, according to The New York Times (subscription), including Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Special Envoy to Northern Ireland (and former White House Chief of Staff) Mick Mulvaney.