President Biden Will Participate in Trump’s Inauguration Despite Past Tensions
The White House confirmed on Monday that President Joe Biden will attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in January, calling it a “commitment to our democratic values” despite the tensions between the two leaders.
Trump, who had refused to attend Biden’s inauguration in 2021, citing false claims of election fraud, will now welcome Biden’s participation in the upcoming ceremony. Biden, who won the 2020 election, had faced a violent Capitol Hill attack from some of Trump’s supporters, incited by the former president’s unfounded claims of a stolen election.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said, “The President promised that he would attend the inauguration of whoever won the election,” adding that both President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will uphold this promise. “He views this as an important demonstration of his commitment to our democratic values and honoring the will of the people while we continue to ensure a smooth and effective transition.”
Despite frequently calling Trump a threat to democracy during the election campaign, Biden has chosen to support a peaceful transition, offering Trump a respectful handover, something the former president had denied Biden in 2021.
Biden, at 82 years old, had withdrawn from the race for a second term in July after concerns over his age and mental health emerged following a problematic debate performance against Trump. He has since endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the future Democratic leader.
