WASHINGTON: Vice President of the United States. Mike pence attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala harris on January 20, an event that outgoing President Donald Triumph has decided to skip.
According to US media, news of Pence’s intention to see Biden take the oath of office in person spread after the first major rift between him and Trump, when the vice president challenged the president in fulfilling his constitutional duty to certify the November 3 elections. results.
Trump, a Republican, announced on Twitter, before his account was suspended, that he would not be attending Biden’s inauguration.
Pence will attend President-elect Biden’s inauguration, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the plans.
Biden, a Democrat, said Friday that he was glad President Trump chose not to attend and that Vice President Pence “is welcome. It would be an honor to have him there.”
“It’s a good thing he doesn’t show up,” Biden said Friday in Wilmington, Delaware, at a news conference.
“He surpassed even my worst notions about him. He has been an embarrassment to the country, he has embarrassed us all over the world. He is not worthy of the position,” Biden said.
The decision is Pence’s second high-profile separation from Trump, after standing loyally behind him for years. Despite pressure from Trump, Pence affirmed Biden’s victory when the US Congress finished counting the Electoral College votes early Thursday morning.
Trump had asked Pence to show “extreme courage” by rejecting the certification process.
Trump has spent weeks falsely claiming that the November presidential election was rigged, culminating in a violent mob of his supporters that took over the Capitol on Wednesday and killed five people, including a police officer.
Former US Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton are also expected to attend the reduced inauguration, without the traditional parade and crowds on the National Mall.
The Congressional committee planning the inauguration ceremony has said the inauguration will take place on the West Front of the Capitol as planned, despite the unprecedented events on Wednesday.
The team that planned the ceremony recommended that people not travel to Washington due to coronavirus risks.
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