‘We love you, you’re all very special’: Trump tells mob to ‘go home’ but repeats false claims about election

'I know your pain. I know you're hurt’

Donald Trump has urged the rioters who stormed the US Capitol building to “go home in peace”, even as he repeated false claims about the election he lost.

Several hours after he spoke before a crowd of supporters close to the National Mall, saying that “we will never concede - it doesn't happen” - he posted a video message in which he urged people to leave the buildings they had then occupied, and to and respect law enforcement officers.

“You have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order,” he said.

Yet his message was as much concerned about the feelings of his supporters and the election they had lost - fraudulently, he again said - as it was about the staggering scenes of chaos being broadcast around the world.

“I know your pain. I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side,” he said. 

He asked the rioters to leave and said he did not want anyone to be hurt. He said it was important to show respect for law and order.

He then repeated his false claim that the election lost had been stolen from him, claims that had led up to 150 Republican members of Congress to vow not to certify the votes for Joe Biden, and no doubt empowering those protesters who attended his “Save America Rally” on Wednesday morning.

“It's a very tough period of time. It's never been a time like this where such a thing happened where they could take it away from all of us from me from you from my country,” he said. 

“Despite his campaign failing in more than 60 legal challenges to try and find some way to overturn the election results and despite his own officials saying the election was fair, he continued to claim it was, despite never having evidence to support his assertion.”

"This was a fraudulent election. But we can't play into the hands of these people,” he said, as even as riot police were being dispatched and the National Guard sent in reinforcements.

“We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens you see the way, others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home and peace."