Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger compared the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol to the Nazis and called President Donald Trump a failed leader who "will go down in history as the worst president ever."
The Republican said in a video he released on social media on Sunday that "Wednesday was the Night of Broken Glass right here in the United States." In 1938, Nazis in Germany and Austria vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses during an attack that became known as Kristallnacht or "the Night of Broken Glass."
"The broken glass was in the windows of the United States Capitol. But the mob did not just shatter the windows of the Capitol, they shattered the ideas we took for granted," he said. "They trampled the very principles on which our country was founded."
My message to my fellow Americans and friends around the world following this week's attack on the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/blOy35LWJ5
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) January 10, 2021
Schwarzenegger, who was born in Austria, compared the Proud Boys — a far-right American extremist group — to the Nazis. Some Proud Boys leaders were arrested in the nation's capital, before and after Wednesday's riots.
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"President Trump sought to overturn the results of the election — and of a fair election," Schwarzenegger said in the video. "He sought a coup by misleading people with lies."
Keep scrolling for a photo gallery of Arnold Schwarzenegger through the years
Schwarzenegger called Trump a failed leader and said he took solace that Trump's presidency was coming to an end and "would soon be as irrelevant as an old tweet."
He called for national unity and vowed his support for President-elect Joe Biden after mobs loyal to Trump broke into the U.S. Capitol, causing a temporary suspension of the electoral count. Members of Congress later returned and certified the results.
Five people died, including a Capitol police officer. Scores of rioters have been arrested and many more are being sought after the brazen attack.
"And to those who think they can overturn the United States Constitution, know this: You will never win," Schwarzenegger said.
During the video, which runs for more than seven and a half minutes, Schwarzenegger likened American democracy to the sword he brandished in his early role as "Conan the Barbarian," which he said only grows stronger when it is tempered.
Schwarzenegger, best known for his movie role as the Terminator, was elected as California's governor in 2003 during a special recall election. He was later elected to a full term.
"I believe, as shaken as we are about the events of recent days, we will come out stronger because we now understand what can be lost," he said, adding that those behind Wednesday's riots — and those that fomented them — will be held accountable.
Photos: Arnold Schwarzenegger through the years
Photos: Arnold Schwarzenegger through the years
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is seen in 1977. (AP Photo)
Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose documentary film "Pumping Iron" is to be presented at the Cannes Film Festival, is showing off his body for an appreciative beach audience in Cannes, France, May 20, 1977. (AP Photo)
Arnold Schwarzenegger poses with the Golden Globe awarded to him for his documentary feature "Pumping Iron," on January 29, 1977, in Hollywood, California. (AP Photo)
Body-builder Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, looks at the bicep of John Riley after Schwarzenegger had helped Riley do 50 pushups at a Special Olympics Celebrity Clinic in Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 1978. Schwarzenegger and other sports celebrities coached Special Olympics participants in their specialties and led teams in shuttle relays. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma)
Actor and body builder Arnold Schwarzenegger arrives with Maria Shriver for the 56th annual Acadamy Awards, April 9, 1984, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all smiles as they pose outside St. Francis Xavier Church, in Hyannis, Mass., after they were married in a pre-noon ceremony, on April 26, 1986. (AP Photo/David Tenenbaum)
Austrian born U.S. movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger holding a machine gun in a scene of 21st Century film "Running Man" 1987.
Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger sports the uniform of a Soviet militia man as he visits Moscow's Red Square, on February 9, 1988. Schwarzenegger was in the Soviet Union to film segments of his recent motion picture "Red Heat."
Bodybuilder-turned-actor Arnold Schwarzenegger puffs on a cigar prior to the start of his "roast" by the Friars Club, in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 30, 1988. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin)
Republican presidential candidate Vice President George Bush, right, and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger look over the audience at a rally in Chicago Heights, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 3, 1988. (AP Photo/Charles Bennett)
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Inner-City Games National Chairman, stands for the singing of the National Anthem with escort Gerardo Guerrero, 12, during a special ceremony for the graduates of the South Florida Inner-City Games Computer Camp Tuesday, Aug. 31, 1999 at Ponce de Leon Middle Community School in Miami. (AP Photo/Amy E. Conn)
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger walks away from a voting booth in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002. Schwarzenegger's after-school programs initiative won overwhelming support from voters, positioning him for a possible candidacy for governor four years from now. (AP Photo/Jean-Marc Bouju)
Arnold Schwarzenegger takes the oath of office for the Governor of California on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento, Monday, Nov. 17, 2003. Schwarzenegger's wife Maria Shriver stands at right. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arnold Schwarzenegger thanks the volunteers who are helping his campaign for governor of California as his wife Maria Shriver watches as he officially opens the Schwarzenegger for Governor volunteer headquarters at its opening night party in Santa Monica Friday, Sept. 5, 2003. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
In this file photo taken Oct. 7, 2003, Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger is joined by wife Maria Shriver as he celebrates his victory in the California gubernatorial recall election. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File)
This Oct. 7, 2003 file photo shows Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, with his in-laws Eunice Kennedy-Shriver, left, and Sargent Shriver following his victory in the California gubernatorial recall election in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger addresses the Republican National Convention in New York City, Tuesday, August 31, 2004. (AP Photo/Santiago Lyon)
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger points to a chart that shows projected state spending by what he calls "autopilot" spending, as compared to his budget control proposals during a news conference were he released his $111.7 billion 2005-06 state budget in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Jan. 10, 2005. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, center, looks at Assemblywoman Sharon Runnner, R-Antelope Valley, left, before being the first signature on the signature drive for the Jessica's Law campaign, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Rene Macura)
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, listens as U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks as they take a helicopter tour of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, over Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevin Chang, Pool)
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jonny Knoxville at The World Premiere Of Lionsgate "The Last Stand" held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 14, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP Images)
Sylvester Stallone, left, and Arnold Schwarzenegger arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Expendables 3" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday, Aug. 11, 2014. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP)
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, center, hugs former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger following the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a Golden Camera lifetime achievement award during awarding ceremony in Hamburg, northern Germany, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Christian Charisius, pool)
In this March 6, 2016, file photo, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger introduces Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich during a campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Arnold Schwarzenegger shows the medal after being awarded Knight of the Legion of Honor by French President Francois Hollande during their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Friday, April 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
In this March 21, 2018 file photo, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at the first New Way California Summit, a political committee eager to reshape the state GOP, at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses "Terminator: Dark Fate" during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon on April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks at a rally calling for "Fair Maps" at the Supreme Court in Washington, as justices hear arguments about partisan gerrymandering, the practice of political parties crafting congressional districts that unfairly benefit one party over another, in Washington, Tuesday, March 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

