Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump tweeted this morning that he will not attend the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden.
President Trump will become only the fourth President to skip his successor’s inauguration. The last outgoing President to do so was President Andrew Johnson in 1969. President Johnson was the first
President to be impeached.
The other two Presidents were John Quincy Adams in 1829 (succeeded by political rival, Andrew Jackson) and John Adams in 1801 (succeeded by political rival, Thomas Jefferson).
More important than President Trump’s attendance is his commitment to a peaceful transition of power.
In his speech last night, President Trump said, “A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.”
Over the course of the 130 years of the United States’ existence, the country has always experienced peaceful transitions of power. That will not change on Jan. 20.
The Electoral College votes to assert Joe Biden’s nomination as President of the United States were certified by Congress yesterday. 138 members of the House of Representatives objected to the Electoral College certification, and seven members of the Senate did the same. All objecting members were Republicans.
As a result of the pro-Trump protests in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, many are calling President Trump to be impeached again or removed through the process of the 25th Amendment.
Efforts to forcibly remove President Trump from office just 12 days away from Joe Biden’s inauguration are unlikely to come to fruition.
Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy reportedly spoke to President-elect Biden, opposing another impeachment inquiry, saying, “Impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more.”
Without support from Republican Leadership, it may be politically difficult to be able to remove President Trump in such a short timeframe. The 25th Amendment, which provides pathways to remove a mentally unfit or physically incapacitated President, is also unlikely. This provision has never been used in the history of the United States.
Unless something dramatic happens in the next week, all signs are pointing to President Trump remaining in office until the end of his term. While Joe Biden is sworn in as President on Inauguration Day, President Trump is expected to be at Mar-a-Lago, in Florida.
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