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WASHINGTON — President Trump has directed the National Guard to be deployed to Washington, D.C. after hundreds of his supporters stormed the US Capitol, the White House confirmed.
“At President @realDonaldTrump’s direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective services,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.
“We reiterate President Trump’s call against violence and to remain peaceful,” she continued.
Members of Congress were evacuated in gas masks on Wednesday afternoon after hundreds of the president’s supporters overpowered Capitol Police and breached the building.
The chaos included an armed standoff outside the House of Representatives’ chamber and at least one woman being shot in the chest.
Both chambers of Congress were in session for a vote to confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory with dozens of GOP lawmakers planning to object.
Thousands of supporters of the president had descended on Washington for a raucous rally earlier Wednesday outside the White House where Trump delivered a fiery speech in which he repeated his claim that the election was rigged against him.
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