January 8, 2021
The world witnessed shocking events unfold on January 6 at the United States Capitol, home of the most powerful and longest-enduring representative democracy in the history of the modern world. I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violence that took place in those hallowed halls. It is my firm belief that violence is never the solution.
But America’s democratic foundation remains solid, as we saw in the hours after the chaos when Vice President Pence stood alongside Speaker Pelosi to complete the constitutionally-enshrined process of certifying electoral votes. This is the final step in the process to confirm the outcome of the Presidential Election in which the American people chose Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States.
On January 20, 2021, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will be sworn into the highest offices in the land, and I will stand proudly alongside my fellow Americans to celebrate the triumph of our democratic principles and our constitutional system over violence and disorder. Though my service as the US Ambassador to the UAE will come to an end on that same day, I will leave with pride and honor to have represented my country in the UAE, and I will wish only success to the new President and to whomever he chooses to follow me as Ambassador to this wonderful country.