Editorial Roundup: US

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Jan. 6 The Washington Post on the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol: President Trump’s refusal to accept his election defeat and his relentless incitement of his supporters led Wednesday to the unthinkable: an assault on the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob that overwhelmed police and drove Congress from its chambers as it was debating the counting of electoral votes. Responsibility for this act of sedition lies squarely with the president, who has shown that his continued tenure in office poses a grave threat to U.S. democracy. He should be removed. Mr. Trump encouraged the mob to gather on Wednesday, as Congress was set convene, and to ‘œbe wild.’� After repeating a panoply of absurd conspiracy theories about the election, he urged the crowd to march on the Capitol. ‘œWe’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you,’� he said. ‘œYou’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.’� The president did not follow the mob, but instead passively watched it on television as its members tore down fences around the Capitol and overwhelmed police guarding the building. House members and senators were forced to flee. Shots were fired and at least one person was struck and killed. Rather than immediately denouncing the violence and calling on his supporters to stand down, Mr. Trump issued two mild tweets in which he called on them to ‘œremain’� or ‘œstay’� peaceful. Following appeals from senior Republicans, he finally released a video in which he asked people to go home, but doubled down on the lies fueling the vigilantes. ‘œWe love you. You’re very special,’� he told his seditious posse. Later, he excused the riot, tweeting that ‘œthese are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away.’� The president is unfit to remain in office for the next 14 days. Every second he retains the vast powers of the presidency is a threat to public order and national security. Vice President Pence, who had to be whisked off the Senate floor for his own protection, should immediately gather the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, declaring that Mr. Trump is ‘œunable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.’� Congress, which would be required to ratify the action if Mr. Trump resists, should do so. Mr. Pence should serve until President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Failing that, senior Republicans must restrain the president. The insurrection came just as many top Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) were finally denouncing Mr. Trump’s anti-democratic campaign to overturn the election results. A depressing number of GOP legislators – such as Sen. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (La.)- were prepared to support Mr. Trump’s effort, fueling the rage of those the president has duped into believing the election was stolen. Mr. McConnell, to his lasting credit, was not. ‘œPresident Trump claims the election was stolen,’� he said. But ‘œnothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale, the massive scale, that would have tipped the entire election. .’‰.’‰. If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.’� He added: ‘œI will not pretend such a vote would be a harmless protest gesture while relying on others to do the right thing.’� As if to prove his point, the Trump mob would soon climb up the Capitol walls, and Mr. McConnell and his colleagues would seek refuge in secured locations.