President Trump will not attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20, he announced in a tweet on Friday, which will make him the first president to skip such an event since 1869 and the fourth overall.
Trump did not explain his decision or elaborate on his plans, simply writing, “To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.”
To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021
Trump’s announcement comes just one day after the president acknowledged his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
“Congress has certified the votes. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20,” he said. “Serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime, and to all of my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning.”
In the recorded remarks, Trump also condemned the protests at the Capitol on Wednesday that turned violent and left five people dead.
“The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy,” he said. “To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country.”
The Capitol Hill mayhem that broke out on Wednesday afternoon in protest to Biden’s electoral certification has been met with widespread condemnation. In response to the violence, House members have signaled a willingness to impeach Trump for a second time, a House Republican has joined calls for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office, and two Cabinet members and several White House personnel announced their resignations.
