President Biden on Thursday said he would be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration next month.
When asked by MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas if he would attend the event, Biden said, “Of course I am. The only president I avoided the inauguration of is the guy about to be inaugurated.”
The White House said last month that Biden and first lady Jill Biden would be attending Trump’s inauguration. In August, the president suggested he would attend a January 2025 inauguration for Trump if he were reelected.
“The president promised that he would attend the inauguration of whomever won the election. He and the first lady are going to honor that promise and attend the inauguration,” White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.
Trump did not attend Biden’s 2021 inauguration as he was facing backlash over his actions related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier that month.
Bates added that Biden views attending the inauguration “as an important demonstration of commitment to our democratic values and to honoring the will of the people as we continue to provide an orderly and effective transition.”
Biden has touted a peaceful presidential transition and met with Trump last month as the two vowed that the White House would change hands smoothly.
