President Donald Trump said he will not attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration one day after he admitted defeat following Congress’ certification of the Electoral College votes, Politico reports.
"To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th," Trump tweeted on Friday.
Trump would become the first president in modern history to skip his successor’s swearing-in.
The only presidents who declined to attend their successors’ inaugurations were John Adams in 1801, John Quincy Adams in 1829, and Andrew Johnson in 1869.
Trump’s tweet came after he sort of conceded the election on Thursday.
“Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20,” he said. “My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.”
Biden shrugs off:
Biden previously told CNN last month that Trump’s presence is "important in a sense that we are able to demonstrate, at the end of this chaos that he's created, that there is a peaceful transfer of power — with competing parties standing there, shaking hands and moving on.”
"The protocol of the transfer of power, I think, is important," he added. "But it is totally his decision, and it's of no personal consequence to me. But I do think it is for the country."
Pence to attend:
Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend the inauguration, according to Politico.
“It was a much more difficult decision days ago, but less difficult now,” a source close to Pence told the outlet.
Pence’s spokesman said that officially the vice president and second lady "have not yet made a decision on their attendance.”
Former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama are expected to attend the event. Jimmy Carter, the only other living president, is not expected to attend. At 96, the former president will avoid traveling due to coronavirus and health concerns.
