Biden Says He’ll Attend Inauguration Regardless Of Winner

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced he will attend the inauguration of the next president, regardless of whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris wins the upcoming election.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized Biden’s commitment to upholding the tradition of a “peaceful transfer of power.” She stated, “This president believes in the peaceful transfer of power, and that’s what you’re going to see… It’s not about him. It’s about the American people.” Jean-Pierre added, “He certainly is going to partake in that,” underscoring Biden’s intention to prioritize national unity.

Notably, Jean-Pierre made no mention of Trump’s decision to skip Biden’s inauguration, a choice reportedly influenced by past tensions. Trump believed that Biden and former President Obama may have supported government factions that promoted the “Russian collusion” narrative during his presidency. These factions continued to oppose Trump during his term, which ended with two impeachments and criticisms over COVID-19, despite his administration’s rapid vaccine development.

During the 2021 inauguration, former Vice President Mike Pence attended in Trump’s place.

Although Biden’s decision to attend the inauguration shows a commitment to tradition, it may not resonate well with his base, especially following remarks he made earlier this week. During a rally, Florida Senator Marco Rubio informed Trump supporters that Biden had allegedly labeled them “garbage.”

“Just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage. I hope their campaign is about to apologize. We are not garbage; we are patriots who love America,” Rubio said while sharing the stage with Trump.

The comment reportedly stemmed from a Zoom call where Biden criticized a comedian at a Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, comparing Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” Biden remarked, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his [Trump’s] supporters.”

Trump reacted quickly to the comment, referencing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 “basket of deplorables” remark. “Wow, that’s what [Biden] says… garbage. I think it’s worse [than deplorable],” he remarked.

During the rally, Trump added, “Please forgive him, for he knoweth not what he say. Honestly, he doesn’t… And I’m convinced he likes me more than he likes Kamala.” The crowd responded with a resounding, “No!”

In reaction to Biden’s remark, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy worked a shift as a garbage collector, underscoring his stance against Biden’s alleged statement. Trump also appeared at a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, arriving in a garbage truck bearing a “Trump-Vance” sign. He joked, “How do you like my garbage truck?”

Senator J.D. Vance voiced his disapproval, saying, “This is disgusting. Kamala Harris and her boss Joe Biden are attacking half of the country. There’s no excuse for this. I hope Americans reject it,” calling attention to the divisive tone toward Trump supporters.