A ‘political hostage video’: how Donald Trump finally relinquished power

Supporters of US President Donald Trump run through the Rotunda of the US Capitol

Credit: JIM LO SCALZO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

Both Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, and Steve Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, two of the president’s closest confidantes and most ardent defenders, were among those who discussed the idea, according to CNBC.

As the moves against him mounted, Mr Trump was left without his usual tools to counter. He was locked out of his Twitter account after failing to delete his Wednesday afternoon post expressing “love” for the rioters. Facebook had also banned him from its site.

Then on Thursday afternoon the stakes rose again. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives and the Senate respectively, delivered an ultimatum: sack Mr Trump via the 25th Amendment or we will impeach. Ms Pelosi called the president a "very dangerous man". 

Aides reportedly implored the president to comprehensively condemn the riots. It would eventually emerge five people had been killed in the chaos, including one police officer who attempted to keep the crowds back.

By Thursday afternoon cabinet members were also heading for the exit door. Elaine Chao, the transport secretary, was the first to go, citing the violence as the reason. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, was second.

Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and a senior White House adviser, reportedly moved to reassure Republican congressmen that a presidential message of unity was coming. And it finally did, on Thursday evening.

"The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol and have defiled the seat of American democracy,” Mr Trump said, reading the words from a teleprompter.

Near the end of the speech he gave a message of coming together: “We must revitalise the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that bind us together as one national family.”

How sincere was the president? By Friday morning, cracks were already appearing. Less than 24 hours after his call for “love”, Mr Trump announced he would not attend Mr Biden’s inauguration.