Former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton pledged to attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Former President George W. Bush also plans to attend Biden’s inauguration. The three men announced their plans around the same time that outgoing President Donald Trump announced he would not be attending. Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton will also attend
Meanwhile, Trump and his wife Melania are expected to leave the White House on Jan. 19 to live in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. It is usually customary for a president to leave office to attend the new president’s inauguration, but Trump will be the first to skip it since 1869.
That year, Republican Ulysses S. Grant won the election because Andrew Johnson was so disliked by his own party that he was not nominated for a second term. Johnson was also the first president to be charged.
Prior to Johnson, John Adams refused to attend the Thomas Jefferson ceremony and Adams’ son John Quincy Adams skipped the Andrew Jackson ceremony.
It’s no great surprise that Trump won’t be attending Biden’s ceremony. Trump refused to acknowledge that Biden had even won until Thursday after a litany of lawmakers urged him to encourage his followers to storm the Capitol.
According to CBS News, Biden had previously suggested that it would be good for Trump to participate in a peaceful change of power, but after what happened on Wednesday, Biden had a change of heart on Friday.
“One of the few things he and I ever agreed on,” Biden told reporters. “It’s a good thing he doesn’t show up.”
Responding to Trump, Biden says he won’t be attending the inauguration: “One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It’s a good thing he doesn’t show up.” https://t.co/oaxwGAhzUn pic.twitter.com/X9zT9rHmqB
– CBS News (@CBSNews) January 8, 2021
Vice President Mike Pence said he plans to attend the inauguration but hadn’t received an invitation until Friday. Former President Jimmy Carter, 96, will not attend as he cannot travel.
The ceremony is expected to be smaller than typical inaugurations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Many can also expect an overwhelming level of security due to the incident at the Capitol. The National Guard and several federal agencies are expected to be well represented on Jan. 20.
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