George W Bush attacks Trump’s ‘reckless’ leadership

Former president called Capitol scenes ‘sickening and heartbreaking’

Former President George W Bush has condemned the riots at the US Capitol by Donald Trump's supporters, comparing the scenes to how "election results are disputed in a banana republic".

Mr Bush described the riots as "scenes of mayhem" and called it a "sickening and heartbreaking sight".  

"I am appalled by the reckless behaviour of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement," he said.  

He indirectly blamed Mr Trump and his allies' rhetoric in the weeks following the 2020 election on the heightened emotions that incited the riot.  

"The violent assault on the Capitol – and disruption of a Constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress – was undertaken by people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes," he wrote. "Insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and reputation."  

He told Trump supporters that the wellbeing of the country was more important than their feelings on the election results.  

"To those who are disappointed in the results of the election: our country is more important than the politics of the moment. Let the officials elected by the people fulfil their duties and represent our voices in peace and safety," he wrote. "May God continue to bless the United States of America."  

Mr Bush – who oversaw the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks and commanded the overthrow of those countries' governments – was met with pushback for offering his perspective and for failing to speak up against Mr Trump's rhetoric earlier or even name him in the statement.  

"I wish he'd found his voice before today. There were so many small moments last year where a measured word would have prevented this," one Twitter user, Anna Caudill, wrote.  

Current Affairs, a leftist magazine, simply stated: "George W Bush knows something about the illegitimate forcible overthrow of governments".

Sen. Lindsey Graham also spoke out against the rioters, despite having supported Mr Trump's bogus election challenges for weeks.  

Shortly after Mr Trump called on his supporters to leave the Capitol, Mr Graham issued a statement on Twitter.  

He then said he agreed with Mr Biden's statement and called for the nation to move forward.  

"I could not agree more with President-elect Biden's statement to the nation. Time to retake the Capitol, end the violence & stop the madness. Time to move forward in governing our nation," he wrote. "Our differences are real but the love of our nation overwhelms our differences."  

Mr Graham was accused by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger of suggesting he invalidate otherwise legal votes in Georgia by utilising signature loopholes in an effort to improve Mr Trump's chances of winning recounts in the state.  

The senator denied the allegations.  

As with Mr Bush, Mr Graham was met with pushback for his too little, too late comments.  

"Find a mirror," former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi wrote on Twitter.  

Former Congresswoman Katie Hill wrote "You. It's You."  

Susan Hennessey, the executive editor of the legal news site Lawfare, blamed Mr Graham's inaction in part for the chaos in Washington.  

"If you had been brave, if you had been decent, if you had loved our Constitution more than you love power, we would not be here now," she wrote.