World leaders condemn ‘horrifying’ riot at US Capitol building

As America’s allies issued strong condemnations of rioters who stormed the US Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday, the nation’s geopolitical foes used last night’s events to question the efficacy of democracy.

The violence erupted after US President Donald Trump spoke to protesters to repeat his false claim that he won the US election in November.

Scenes of armed rioters breaching and trashing the Capitol – which interrupted Congress’s count of electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win – disturbed top diplomats around the world. Democratic leaders reacted with concern online, describing the chaotic scenes as “shocking” and “disgraceful.”

US President Donald Trump's supporters gather outside the Capitol building in Washington DC on January 6.

Related article The US Capitol siege was no 'third world country' crisis. This was a uniquely American monster

As the chaos unfolded, several foreign embassies in Washington issued stay-at-home notices for their citizens, and European leaders began deploying the language usually reserved for incidents in which democratic values and rule of law are under siege.

And on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a strong condemnation against both the rioters and President Trump.

“On the United States and the election, I want to say that all my life America has stood for some very important things — an idea of freedom and an idea of democracy. And … so far as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol and insofar as the President has consistently cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election, I believe that that was completely wrong,” he said a press conference, in response to a journalist’s question.

“And what President Trump has been saying about that has been completely wrong and I unreservedly condemn encouraging people to behave in the disgraceful way that they did in the Capitol,” he added.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who rarely comments on the internal affairs of the alliance’s member states, urged Americans to respect the outcome of the November election. His call was echoed by European Parliament President David Sassoli, who added, “We are certain the US will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected.”

“President Trump and several members of Congress bear substantial responsibility for developments,” tweeted Swedish Prime Minister Stefan L?fven. “The democratic election process must be respected.”

A rioter holds a Trump flag inside the US Capitol near the Senate chamber on Wednesday, January 6.

Members of the DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol after the riots.

Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House chamber after the Capitol was breached.

A rioter hangs from a balcony in the Senate chamber.

Trump supporters cover their faces after tear gas was fired in front of the Capitol.

A Trump supporter carries a Confederate battle flag in the Capitol Rotunda. During the Civil War, the closest any insurgent carrying a Confederate flag ever came to the Capitol was about 6 miles, during the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.

US Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado, comforts US Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, while taking cover in the House chamber.

Richard "Bigo" Barnett, the leader of a pro-gun rights group in Gravette, Arkansas, sits inside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Barnett later showed reporters an envelope that he said he took from Pelosi's desk.

Papers and other materials litter the House chamber after it was evacuated.

Congressional staffers evacuate the Capitol.

Congressional staffers put up a barricade inside the Capitol after rioters breached the building.

One of the most recognizable figures in the crowd was a man in his 30s with a painted face, fur hat and a helmet with horns. The protester, Jake Angeli — known by followers as the QAnon Shaman — quickly became a symbol of the bizarre and frightening spectacle. In recent months, Angeli has been a regular presence at pro-Trump protests in Arizona, including demonstrations outside the Maricopa County vote-counting center.

Tear gas is deployed as rioters gather outside the Capitol.

Capitol Police detain rioters outside of the House chamber.

Trump supporters storm the Capitol during clashes with police.

Members of Congress run for cover as rioters try to enter the House chamber.

Congressional staffers hold up their hands while Capitol Police SWAT teams secure the US Capitol.

Rioters walk through the Capitol after breaching barricades to the building.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol.

A rioter sits in the Senate chamber.

A crowd of Trump supporters can be seen from inside the Capitol.

A Capitol Police officer sprays a person who was trying to enter the Capitol.

US Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard and Annie Kuster take cover while rioters were in the Capitol.

Trump supporters climb a wall outside the Capitol.

A Trump supporter gestures to Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber.

People take shelter in the House chamber as rioters try to break in. House members were given gas masks that were under the seats, according to a pool reporter on the House floor.

Trump supporters walk through the Capitol's Statuary Hall.

People bring a ladder to help them break into the Capitol.

People evacuate the House chamber as rioters attempt to break in.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier outside the Capitol. Shortly after 1 p.m., some pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear.

Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol.

Capitol Police try to hold back people outside the east doors to the House side of the Capitol.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier.

Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officiate the joint session of Congress early on January 6. Congress was meeting to count and certify the Electoral College votes before the Capitol was breached.

Republicans applaud after US Rep. Paul Gosar, lower right, objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona.

The certification of Arizona's Electoral College votes is unsealed during the joint session of Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blows a kiss to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell arrive for the joint session.

Congress begins its joint session.

Trump arrives to speak to his supporters at a rally on January 6. His speech included calls for his vice president to step outside his constitutional bounds and overturn the results of the election. "Hope Mike is going to do the right thing," Trump said at the rally. "If Mike Pence does the right thing, we win the election."

People rally near the White House in support of Trump.

Chamber assistants carry Electoral College ballot boxes at the Capitol.

Trump supporters participate in a rally near the White House.

In pictures: Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol on historic day in Congress

Prev Next

There were however notes of schadenfreude in the responses from Russian and Iranian officials. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Trump a “sick person” who had disgraced his country during a televised speech Thursday on Iran’s state-run news agencies.

“What happened in the US shows how fragile Western democracy is,” he said. “Despite all their scientific and industrial achievements, we see a huge influence of populism. When a sick person takes office, we see how he disgraces his country and creates troubles for the world.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin – who has consistently rejected American “unilateralism” as the world’s global power – made no statement on last night’s chaotic events, but his lawmakers did not hold back.

Police hold back supporters of US President Donald Trump as they gather outside the US Capitol's Rotunda on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

Related article China is thriving in the chaos of the US presidential transition

Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian upper house foreign affairs committee, said the storming signaled the derailment of American democracy.

“The celebration of democracy is over. Alas, this is rock bottom, I say this without a hint of gloating,” Kosachev wrote on Facebook Thursday. “America no longer defines the course, and therefore has lost all right to set it. And even more so to impose it on others,” Kosachev said.

Kosachev cited Trump’s “narcissism, eccentricity and adventurism” and “impersonal political platforms of Democrats and Republicans” as reasons behind the unrest.

“America is split in half, and the equal halves will always challenge any voting results that are to their disadvantage,” he wrote.

US allies condemned the actions of rioters on Wednesday

A lawmaker from Russia’s lower house of parliament and a member of the information policy committee, Anton Gorelkin, praised the social media platforms’ decision to restrict Donald Trump’s accounts.

“Events in the United States once again show the power of social networks as tools for influencing the masses,” Gorelkin wrote on his Telegram channel.

Russian state TV anchor Evgeny Popov noted sarcastically on Twitter that “the world is bursting at its seams. Thank God, not our world. Merry Christmas!”

Distressing scenes

Allies saw last night’s chaos as a disturbing warning for democracies, with some top leaders imploring Trump to accept the results of the free and fair 2020 election in the US.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a meeting on Thursday that the riots made her feel “angry and sad.”

“A basic rule of democracy is after the election there are winners and losers, both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner,” she said.

“I regret very much that President Trump did not admit defeat in November and again yesterday,” she added.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence as “disgraceful” and said it should be “vigorously condemned,” as other Israeli political figures hinted it contained a warning for their own country. “Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish,” he said.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Related article An unchained Trump threatens more mayhem in his final dangerous days

Gideon Saar, leader of the right-wing New Hope party, and tipped as a strong challenger to Netanyahu in March’s general election, said in a statement, “The events serve as an important reminder of the dangers of polarization and extremism in society. We must never take democracy and its institutions for granted.”

“Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour,” tweeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld – and it will be.”

Leaders from the Pacific responded as well. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the “very distressing” scenes of violence, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted, “What is happening is wrong. Democracy – the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob.”

Trump supporters gesture to U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber

Several leaders held the US President personally responsible for the upset and its resolution. “What we are now seeing from Washington is a completely unacceptable attack on democracy in the United States. President Trump is responsible for stopping this. Scary pictures, and amazing that this is the United States,” wrote Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

“Shocking & deeply sad scenes in Washington DC – we must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election! The world is watching! We hope for restoration of calm,” said Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

And Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed Trump directly. “Horrible images from Washington DC Dear Donald Trump, recognise Joe Biden as the next president today.”

Some countries warned their citizens in the US to be careful of the violence. “On January 6, there is a mass protest in DC, and the local government has announced an emergency curfew,” said the Chinese embassy to the US in a statement, cautioning citizens to pay attention to the situation and “to be vigilant.”

After rioting began in Washington, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry also recommended that its citizens in the US “stay away from crowded places and places where shows are held.”

National Guard troops were deployed to the Lincoln Memorial on June 2, 2020 as protests were held in DC over the death of George Floyd.

Related article Rioters breached US Capitol security on Wednesday. This was the police response when it was Black protesters on DC streets last year

Many, including top 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 at the breach of the US Capitol – the first time that the building had been overrun since a British attack during the War of 1812, according to Samuel Holliday, director of scholarship and operations with the US Capitol Historical Society.

“This is not America,” wrote European Union High Representative Josep Borrell, who described the mob’s actions as “an unseen assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law.”

“The US Congress is a temple of democracy. To witness tonight’s scenes in #WashingtonDC is a shock,” said President of the European Council Charles Michel.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also wrote, “I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core. Joe Biden won the election.”

“I look forward to working with him as the next President of the USA,” she added.

CNN’s Mary Ilyushina and Andrew Carey contributed to this report.