The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Pelosi, Schumer call for Trump’s removal; Trump acknowledges new administration

A day after the insurrection at the Capitol, President Trump on Jan. 7 said he will focus on ensuring a "seamless transition of power." (Video: @realDonaldTrump/Twitter)
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January 7, 2021 at 10:12 p.m. EST

The top Democrats in Congress — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) — on Thursday called for President Trump’s immediate removal from office, either by his Cabinet or possibly through impeachment.

“By inciting sedition as he did yesterday, he must be removed for office. While there’s only 13 days left, any day could be a horror show for America,” Pelosi told reporters on Capitol Hill.

In the evening, Trump released a two-and-a-half-minute video, calling for tempers to cool, acknowledging there will be a new administration Jan. 20 and saying he is now focused on a “smooth, orderly, seamless transition of power.”

“Serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime,” he said, a tacit acknowledgment that his presidency is over.

Here’s what to know:

  • Members of Congress, shaken and angry following a violent assault on the Capitol by a mob of Trump’s supporters, put a final stamp on Biden’s victory early Thursday and brought an end to a historically turbulent post-election period.
  • An array of top Trump aides weighed resigning, and some senior administration officials began conversations about invoking the 25th Amendment — an extraordinary measure that would remove the president before his term expires Jan. 20.
  • Trump Cabinet members, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, resigned in response to the violent takeover of the Capitol by pro-Trump supporters.
  • House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant of Arms Michael Stenger resigned in wake of Capitol siege. Capitol Chief of Police Steven Sund is expected to step down on Jan. 16.
  • Biden announced federal judge Merrick B. Garland, as his pick for attorney general and told him, “You don’t work for me,” a reference to Trump’s politicization of the Justice Department.
  • Election results are under attack. Here are the facts.
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Here's what to know:

Members of Congress, shaken and angry following a violent assault on the Capitol by a mob of Trump’s supporters, put a final stamp on Biden’s victory early Thursday and brought an end to a historically turbulent post-election period.
An array of top Trump aides weighed resigning, and some senior administration officials began conversations about invoking the 25th Amendment — an extraordinary measure that would remove the president before his term expires Jan. 20.
Trump Cabinet members, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, resigned in response to the violent takeover of the Capitol by pro-Trump supporters.
House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant of Arms Michael Stenger resigned in wake of Capitol siege. Capitol Chief of Police Steven Sund is expected to step down on Jan. 16.
Biden announced federal judge Merrick B. Garland, as his pick for attorney general and told him, “You don’t work for me,” a reference to Trump’s politicization of the Justice Department.
Election results are under attack. Here are the facts.

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The Jan. 6 insurrection

The report: The Jan. 6 committee released its final report, marking the culmination of an 18-month investigation into the violent insurrection. Read The Post’s analysis about the committee’s new findings and conclusions.

The final hearing: The House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. Capitol held its final public meeting where members referred four criminal charges against former president Donald Trump and others to the Justice Department. Here’s what the criminal referrals mean.

The riot: On Jan. 6, 2021, a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election results. Five people died on that day or in the immediate aftermath, and 140 police officers were assaulted.

Inside the siege: During the rampage, rioters came perilously close to penetrating the inner sanctums of the building while lawmakers were still there, including former vice president Mike Pence. The Washington Post examined text messages, photos and videos to create a video timeline of what happened on Jan. 6. Here’s what we know about what Trump did on Jan. 6.

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