With about a month left in his term, U.S. President Joe Biden has personally confirmed that he will attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20 next year.
On the 19th (local time), President Biden responded "Of course I will attend" when asked about attending the inauguration during an interview aired on the Midas Touch Network. He added, "The person who avoided the inauguration is the one who is about to be inaugurated (Trump)."
While the White House had previously stated that President Biden planned to attend the inauguration, this is the first time Biden himself has confirmed his attendance. It is generally regarded as a symbol of peaceful transfer of power for an outgoing president to attend the inauguration of the next president. President-elect Trump, who has claimed the 2020 election was 'fraudulent,' did not attend President Biden's inauguration in 2021. That inauguration was held shortly after the January 6 incident, when Trump supporters stormed and attacked the Capitol in protest of the election results.
In the interview, President Biden said, "It is not my concern that he (Trump) did not uphold the democratic order we established," adding, "My job is to ensure the transfer of power can be carried out." He also emphasized, "Ultimately, this (not attending the inauguration) cannot continue," and stated, "You cannot just leave because you disagree with the election results and continue a 'childish game' of non-cooperation."
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