Former US President Barack Obama has spoken out about the storming of the US Capitol building directly blaming US President Donald Trump for stoking the actions of protestors.
“History will rightly remember today’s violence at the Capitol, incited by a sitting president who has continued to baselessly lie about the outcome of a lawful election, as a moment of great dishonour and shame for our nation,” he said in a statement.
"But we’d be kidding ourselves if we treated it as a total surprise."
In his statement, Mr Obama took aim at the Republican party and “accompanying media ecosystem” for failing to denounce false claims circulated by Mr Trump.
“Their fantasy narrative has spiralled further and further from reality and further from reality, and it builds upon years of resentments,” he said.
“Now we’re seeing the consequences, whipped up into a violent crescendo. They can continue down this road and keep stoking the raging fires.
“Or they can choose reality and take the first steps towards extinguishing the flames. They can choose America.”
Fellow former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton have also condemned the scenes as an attack on democracy fuelled by misinformation.
Protestors storm the Capitol building during a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC . Source: AAP
Republican Mr Bush described it as a "sickening" and "heartbreaking" sight fuelled by "falsehoods".
"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic," he said in a statement.
"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.
"Insurrection could do grave damage to our nation and reputation."
Democrat Mr Clinton called it an “unprecedented assault” on the United States Capitol, Constitution and country fuelled by “poison politics” spreading misinformation, sowing distrust and “pitting Americans against one another.”
Trump supporters protest on the steps of the US Capitol in Washington. Source: ABACA
“The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost,” he said in a statement.
“I have always believed that America is made up of good, decent people. I still do.
“If that’s who we really are, we must reject today’s violence, turn the page, and move forward together.”
Trump supporters broke down security barricades and breached the US Capitol on Thursday, clashing with police in a chaotic last-ditch attempt to overturn his election loss.
The demonstrations are believed to have been inflamed by Mr Trump's false claims of a “stolen” election.
Mr Trump had called on his followers to protest the certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s election victory at the US Capitol.
Police drew guns as they confronted rioters trying to break into the building with authorities forced to deploy tear gas to steer away protesters.
A woman died after being shot, Washington police have confirmed.
Mattis blames Trump for 'mob rule'
As well as former presidents, Mr Trump's first secretary of defence James Mattis has also laid blame on the sitting president.
“[The] violent assault on our Capitol, an effort to subjugate American democracy by mob rule, was fomented by Mr Trump,” he said in a statement.
“His use of the presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice.
James Mattis, right, has spoken out about the assault on the US Capitol. Source: AAP
“Our Constitution and our Republic will overcome this stain and We the People will come together again in our never-ending effort to form a more perfect Union, while Mr Trump will deservedly be left a man without a country,” he added.
Mr Trump posted a video to Twitter calling on protesters to "go home in peace", but has continued to repeat unfounded claims that Mr Biden's election win was the result of fraud.
Mr Biden said: "the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect the true America and do not reflect who we are".
