Will Joe Biden Attend Donald Trump’s Inauguration?

The question of whether President Joe Biden would attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, if Trump were to win a future election, is both hypothetical and steeped in political symbolism. The White House had said Biden would attend, but Biden had not previously addressed the matter personally. “Of course I am,” Biden said in an interview broadcast on the Meidas Touch network, when asked if he was planning to attend.

A Historical Norm Broken

In January 2021, Donald Trump broke with over a century of tradition by refusing to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration. This marked the first time in 152 years that an outgoing U.S. president skipped the swearing-in ceremony of their successor. Trump’s absence was widely seen as emblematic of his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election.

Joe Biden, when asked about Trump’s decision, remarked, “I think it’s a good thing he didn’t show up. He’s been an embarrassment to the country, embarrassed us around the world.” Biden’s words underscore the weight of tradition and the importance of a peaceful transfer of power, even amid political rivalry.

Biden’s Perspective on Unity and Tradition

Joe Biden has often emphasized the importance of bipartisanship and national unity. During his inaugural address, he called for a mending of the nation’s divisions: “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve.”

Biden’s political ethos, focused on bridging divides, suggests he values the ceremonial role of the presidency and its associated traditions. Yet, his decision to attend a Trump inauguration, if it were to occur, might hinge on the context. Biden has been critical of Trump’s actions and rhetoric, which he has described as undermining democratic norms.

Biden has stated: “I will be a president for all Americans, whether you voted for me or not.” Attending Trump’s inauguration could be framed as an extension of that ethos—a symbolic act of respect for the office, if not the individual.

However, Biden has also demonstrated a willingness to challenge norms when he feels they conflict with democratic principles. For example, his administration has frequently highlighted the dangers of election denialism and political extremism. If a Trump presidency were perceived as a continuation of those threats, Biden might feel justified in declining to attend.

The Precedent Trump Set

Trump’s decision to skip Biden’s inauguration sets a unique precedent. Traditionally, the presence of the outgoing president at the inauguration signifies a peaceful transfer of power and the continuity of democratic governance. By opting out, Trump disrupted this norm. Would Biden be compelled to restore it, or would he feel liberated from the obligation given Trump’s own actions?

As historian Douglas Brinkley noted, “The peaceful transfer of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. When that tradition is broken, it leaves lasting scars.” Biden’s decision could reflect a desire to either heal those scars or to underscore the consequences of breaking norms.

Democracy has prevailed, just like it did in 2020 when Joe Biden won the election

In Biden’s own words: “Democracy has prevailed.” Whether that democracy would be best served by his attendance at a Trump inauguration is a matter that may never need answering. But if it does, Biden’s choice will carry profound symbolic weight for the nation and its democratic traditions.

Outgoing Presidents Who Broke Tradition

While Trump’s absence at Joe Biden’s inauguration was striking, he is not the only outgoing president in U.S. history to skip their successor’s inauguration. There have been a handful of notable exceptions:

  1. John Adams (1801): Adams did not attend the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, his political rival, after a contentious election that resulted in a tie and was ultimately decided by the House of Representatives. Adams left Washington early in the morning on Inauguration Day.
  2. John Quincy Adams (1829): Like his father, John Quincy Adams also skipped his successor’s inauguration. Adams refused to attend Andrew Jackson’s swearing-in ceremony, reflecting the bitterness of their election battle.
  3. Andrew Johnson (1869): Johnson did not attend Ulysses S. Grant’s inauguration after refusing to cooperate with Grant during the transition period. Johnson, embroiled in impeachment proceedings during his presidency, remained in the White House signing legislation as Grant took the oath of office.

I think we’ll see Biden at Trump’s inauguration.

Everything I write about is my own opinion or things I’ve either researched, taken a picture of, seen news about, and want to share. Let’s keep the conversation going, post a comment below.

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