In a stark contrast to the events of four years ago, the traditional transfer of power in the United States has been restored.
President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have set aside their differences, engaging in the customary pre-inauguration activities.
This comes after Trump, still seething from the 2020 election results, had previously snubbed Biden, refusing to participate in the time-honored traditions that mark the peaceful transition of power.
According to The Independent, the day began with the Bidens extending an invitation to the Trumps for a pre-inauguration tea at the White House. This gesture of goodwill was particularly notable, given that the Trumps had declined to extend a similar invitation to the Bidens four years prior. Upon their meeting at the White House, President Biden greeted the Trumps with a cordial "Welcome home."
The two political figures then shared the presidential limousine for the short, albeit potentially awkward, journey to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. The tension between them was palpable, a residue of a contentious election cycle marked by heated exchanges and public criticisms. Trump has frequently dismissed Biden as a failure and questioned his fitness for office, while Biden has countered by labeling Trump a threat to democracy.
The political landscape shifted dramatically following Biden's lackluster performance in the presidential debate against Trump. This event led to a significant loss of confidence among Democratic leaders and voters in Biden's ability to secure a victory in November, effectively rendering him a lame-duck president.
Following Trump's official swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States, he will join Biden and other past presidents in the ceremonial wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery. Meanwhile, the Bidens will be relocated from the White House.
The return to tradition is a significant departure from Trump's first inauguration. Four years ago, he became the first president in decades to break from inauguration day traditions, notably by refusing to extend a warm welcome to the Bidens at the White House. This was a stark contrast to former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who graciously participated in inaugural day traditions in 2017, despite Trump's years-long promotion of a baseless conspiracy theory questioning Obama's birthplace.
Prior to Trump's snub of Biden in 2021, the last president to abstain from attending the inauguration was Woodrow Wilson in 1921, due to ill health. The return to tradition this year underscores the enduring resilience of the democratic process, even in the face of political discord and contention.
Login