Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau has reacted to unfolding political developments in the United States as supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.
Reports monitored by The New Diplomat quoted Trudeau as saying the Canadian government was watching the developments “minute-by-minute” with keen and careful interest, describing the action as deeply disturbing.
“There is an important electoral process unfolding in the United States and I think we all want it and need it to unfold properly and peacefully. So we certainly hope that things will calm down” Trudeau told NEWS 1130.
He added: “We’re going to keep watching carefully.” Justin Trudeau later took to his Twitter handle where he released a statement which reads thus: “Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States.
“Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld – and it will be.”
It would be recalled that US President Trump supporters had overpowered police and breached the US Capitol on Wednesday, leading to an armed standoff at the House of Representatives’ chambers, forcing the building into lockdown and disrupting the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
A showdown involving police and protesters with guns drawn took place outside the body’s quarters, according to a pool of reporters, who did not immediately note any injuries or shots fired. One reporter tweeted that a protester made it all the way to the dais, and declared: “Trump won that election.”
The result was that hordes of President Trump’s supporters breached the US Capitol on Wednesday, overpowering police, forcing the building into lockdown and disrupting the congressional certification of the 2020 presidential election results won by President-elect Joe Biden.
Thousands of protesters had previously broken through a fence and stormed the building, according to reporters on the ground. Dozens of protesters pushed past police made it inside the building, photos posted on social-media show and video shot by a Post reporter show.
Some carried American, others the Confederate stars and bars. Several protesters made it onto the building’s balcony, where at least one Gadsden flag was draped.
The certification process was interrupted, with lawmakers told to take shelter. Among those in the Senate chamber was Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump has fiercely criticized for what he perceives as a lack of effort to stop the election certification process.
