President-elect Joe Biden called for an end to the chaos after angry supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a chaotic attack aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power, forcing lawmakers to be rushed from the building.
The attack came after the House and Senate began debate on a procedural challenge to Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
"The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America. Do not represent who we are. What we're seeing are a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent, it's disorder. It's chaos. It borders on sedition, and it must end now. I call on this mob to pull back and allow the work of democracy to go forward," Biden said, speaking from Wilmington, Delaware.
"At this hour, our democracy's under unprecedented assault, unlike anything we've seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself. An assault on the people's representatives and the Capitol Hill police sworn to protect them, and the public servants who work at the heart of our republic," Biden said.
Trump issued on Twitter a restrained call for peace well after the melee was underway. He doubled down on his false claims of election fraud, and Twitter limited how people could interact with his video, citing a "risk of violence."
The Pentagon said about 1,100 District of Columbia National Guard members were being mobilized to help support law enforcement at the Capitol.
hires: Crowd at rally on Jan. 6
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, supporters listen to President Donald Trump speak as flags, including a Confederate-themed one, flutter in the wind during a rally in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
hires: Jan. 6 Trump rally
Trump supporters participate in a rally Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
hires: Jan. 6 Trump rally
In this Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, Trump supporters participate in a rally in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
hires: Trump at Jan. 6 rally
FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington. Arguments begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on allegations that he incited the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
hires: Trump at Jan. 6 rally
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
hires: Trump at Jan. 6 rally
President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as President, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump stand outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, supporter of President Donald Trump protest as U.S. Capitol Police officers shoot tear gas at demonstrators outside of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
Police hold off Trump supporters who tried to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
A President Donald Trump supporter invites a police officer into a fist fight during a melee at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. The incident happened as Congress prepared to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, with thousands of people gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
Capitol police officers in riot gear push back demonstrators who try to break a door of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo violent rioters, loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside
Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
hires: Capitol riot
Violent protesters gather outside the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
hires: Capitol riot
In this Jan 6, 2021, file photo, U.S. Capitol Police try to hold back rioters outside the east doors to the House side of the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
hires: Capitol riot, inside
Supporters of President Donald Trump stand inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
hires: Capitol riot
In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. On Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting that Capitol rioters were antifa activists. At center is Jake Angeli, also known as Jacob A. Chansley, wearing fur hat with horns, a regular at pro-Trump events and a known follower of QAnon. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
hires: Capitol riot
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. Both within and outside the walls of the Capitol, banners and symbols of white supremacy and anti-government extremism were displayed as an insurrectionist mob swarmed the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
hires: Capitol riot
A supporter of President Donald Trump, later identified as Jacob A. Chansley the "QAnon Shaman," chants outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
hires: Capitol riot
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. An Arizona man seen in photos and video of the mob wearing a fur hat with horns was also charged Saturday in Wednesday's chaos. Jacob Anthony Chansley, who also goes by the name Jake Angeli, was taken into custody Saturday, Jan. 9. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
hires: Capitol riot
In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, supporters of President Donald Trump, including Jacob Chansley, right with fur hat, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
hires: Capitol riot
Supporters of President Donald Trump, including the man in the middle, later identified as Jacob A. Chansley the "QAnon Shaman," are confronted by Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
hires: Capitol riot
A flag hangs between broken windows after President Donald Trump supporters tried to brake through police barriers outside the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan 6, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo people shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol. Arguments begin Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump on allegations that he incited the violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
In this Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 file photo, people shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
People shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
U.S. Capitol Police with guns drawn stand near a barricaded door as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
In this photo taken Jan. 6, 2021, security agents and lawmakers barricade the door to the House chamber as violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump breached the Capitol in Washington and disrupted the Electoral College process. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
hires: Capitol riot, House chamber
Security forces draw their guns as rioters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
hires: Capitol riot, just outside House chamber
In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo, U.S. Capitol Police hold insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
hires: Capitol riot, outside at night
DC National Guard stand outside the Capitol, Wednesday night, Jan. 6, 2021, after a day of rioting protesters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
