Trump Refused To Say ‘Election Was Over’ In Jan. 7 Speech, Video Shows

A new video of outtakes from former President Donald Trump‘s January 7, 2021, speech addressing the Capitol attack the day prior shows his reluctance to concede the 2020 election to winner President Joe Biden.

“But this election is now over. Congress has certified the results,” the video shows Trump starting, before backtracking. “I don’t want to say the election is over. I just want to say Congress has certified the results without saying the election’s over, ok?”

The video was made public by the House select committee that has been investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots for the past year. The video also included a script of the speech, marked up by the President. Ivanka Trump, who served as a senior adviser during her father’s time in the White House, confirmed during her interview with the committee that the writing on the marked-up script looked like Trump’s handwriting.

Other outtakes included, “I want to be very clear. You do not represent me. You do not represent our movement,” before opting to leave in “You do not represent our country.” He also axed the line directing the Justice Department to “ensure all lawbreakers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We must send a clear message — not with mercy but with JUSTICE. Legal consequences must be swift and firm.”

Aides reported suggesting the president make a stronger statement condemning the Capitol attack, but Trump seemed reluctant to give the speech at all.

Watch the outtakes of the speech as Trump edited below.

Article by Rose Carter