Ever since losing the 2020 presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden by over 7 million votes, President Donald Trump has been telling his base a string of lies and conspiracy theories to claim he won. In the last week he promoted a "Save America" rally on social media in Washington DC on the day Congress was slated to certify the electoral college tallies—which Biden won by 74 votes.
On the day of the congressional certification, Trump spoke at the rally before several thousand people, claiming he won a landslide victory and making other false claims regarding the election. During the rally, President Trump also encouraged his supporters to go to the Capitol where Congress was in session certifying his election loss.
The destruction caused at the Capitol by the mob of QAnon adherents, White supremacists and MAGA minions lead to calls of consequences for the man who egged them on and lied about the election results repeatedly.
Some called for another impeachment.
The National Association of Manufacturers, along with former Clinton administration Defense Secretary and retired Maine Republican Senator Bill Cohen, called for decisive action from Vice President Mike Pence and the Trump administration cabinet.
On Thursday, Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois added his voice to calls for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, find Trump unfit, and take over the role of the presidency until President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
Kinzinger—a military combat veteran—shared his reasoning in a video on Twitter.
It's with a heavy heart I am calling for the sake of our Democracy that the 25th Amendment be invoked. My statement: pic.twitter.com/yVyQrYcjuD
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
Kinzinger called out the lies being spread in the wake of the violent assault on the Capitol Wednesday, then stated those continued lies were his motivation.
The Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran stated:
"Here's the truth. The President caused this. The President is unfit and the President is unwell."
"And the President now must relinquish control of the executive branch voluntarily or involuntarily."
Kinzinger added:
"All indications are that the President has become unmoored, not just from his duty, nor even his oath, but from reality itself."
"It's for this reason that I call for the Vice President and members of the Cabinet to ensure the next few weeks are safe for the American people and that we have a sane captain the ship."
People were divided in their response to Kinzinger's video between gratitude, outcry from loyal MAGA minions, and questions about why it took so long.
It's about time a Republican come forward. 💪
— DAPPER DON DHARSHI • K A M I L • (@SoloFlow786) January 7, 2021
Congress, the media and social media corporations are guilty of a coup against the president. A person in Italy has admitted to stealing the election from Trump. Congress is guilty of treason if they certify a stolen election. MM arr
— Michelle McLeod (@Micwritermcleod) January 7, 2021
YOU KNEW he was unfit ‼️
— pam miller (@badkitty251) January 7, 2021
Thank you congressman for your leadership. #RemoveTrumpNow
— Republicans for Joe Biden 🇺🇸 (@RepsForBiden) January 7, 2021
Does it also apply to these people? pic.twitter.com/IwQGSQ4UiJ
— NotTheFullPackage (@NotTheFullP) January 7, 2021
None of these people encouraged violence. They encouraged peaceful protests. Donny cheered on terrorists.
— White House Nursery Rhymes (@WHNurseryRhymes) January 7, 2021
Not since the War of 1812 has the Capitol been stormed and breached by an armed mob (of cowards, I might add).
Enough with the false equivalence.
— The Celtic Stoic 🏴 (@CelticStoic) January 7, 2021
You're toast in the GOP
— Ron Coleman (@RonColeman) January 7, 2021
He must be removed before he issues blanket pardons for yesterday, hands out Medals of Freedom like Crackerjack prizes, and worse...
— SPARTA! (@johanson_sven) January 7, 2021
There were the same amount of deaths yesterday as Benghazi. Will Republicans sack up and call for a years long investigation into how the Capitol police were infiltrated and how the Homeland Security department did nothing to protect members of Congress on our home soil?
— Fevin Krost (@Kev_Kev_93) January 7, 2021
Your acting sucks, darlin.
— Kambree (@KamVTV) January 7, 2021
What's your plan for the next four years? Your entire identity is being a Trump sycophant. What's next?
— Matt (@trollinguphill) January 7, 2021
Long over due, should have been done a couple years ago.
— Chase Stevens (@ChaseStevens2) January 7, 2021
Thank you, Congressman.
Unlike so many of your colleagues, you've actually been fairly consistent on the Terrorist-in-Chief.
And if your party no longer wants you, become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats.
— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) January 7, 2021
Representative Kinzinger had previously called for honesty about Joe Biden's decisive win in the 2020 presidential election.
Part one of my floor statement https://t.co/18DOatIrQ3
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
Second part of my floor statement https://t.co/CGSlgSFihU
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
What happens next is up to us. We must reject the charades and tell the truth. Joe Biden won the presidential election, and as a nation, we need to move forward. https://t.co/hzzSU8jIHE
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
The Illinois Republican also had harsh criticism for some of his GOP colleagues like Florida Representative Matt Gaetz.
I'm embarrassed by some of my Republican colleagues on the floor. They have defaulted to political points for fame and have failed to rise to this moment.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
This is the gasps of desperation as their gravy train de-rails, their fame subsides, and the Americans awake to the grift. https://t.co/KAoTHqaeeV
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) January 7, 2021
Whether more members of the GOP will join Kinzinger's call for accountability remains to be seen.
