The president-elect said Trump’s decision not to attend the January 20 event is ‘one of the few things’ they agree on.
President-elect Joe Biden has celebrated President Donald Trump’s decision not to attend his swearing-in ceremony on January 20, saying “it’s a good thing”.
Trump said in a tweet on Friday that he “will not be going to the inauguration”, in what would be an unusual break with custom that is seen as part of the peaceful transition of power in the United States.
The last incumbent president to miss his successor’s inauguration was Andrew Johnson in 1869.
“One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on,” Biden said of Trump’s decision later on Friday as he unveiled his picks for secretaries of commerce and labour.
That being said, Biden added that Trump “has exceeded even my worst notions about him. He’s been an embarrassment to the country, embarrassed us around the world, not worthy, not worthy to hold that office”.
Biden, however, stated that the Vice-President, Mike Pence is welcome to his inauguration, he added that it will be an honour to have him at the event.
Newsonspot.com.ng had earlier reported that United States President Donald Trump said he will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, 2021.
“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” Trump wrote on Twitter on Friday.
The President-elect while speaking on the plan to impeach Trump, said the issue is up to the congress to decide.
Biden while speaking with newsmen at his hometown of Wilmington said, “What the Congress decides to do is for them to decide.”
“We’re going to do our job and Congress can decide how to proceed,” he said.
He further stated that the statement of Trump on Wednesday showed that he is unfit for the office.
Biden said some Republican lawmakers felt really ashamed of Trump’s conduct this week.
Biden was asked how members of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the US Capitol should be treated by law enforcement and prosecutors.
“They should be treated as they’re a bunch of thugs, insurrectionists, white supremacists, anti-Semites,” Biden said. “These are a bunch of thugs, thugs. And they’re a bunch of terrorists, domestic terrorists.”
“This had the active encouragement of a sitting president of the United States,” Biden continued, adding that the security issues the riot revealed deserve “a full-blown investigation, people be held accountable and steps taken [so] that something like this could never happen again”.
With 12 days until his inauguration, Biden still does not have any of his cabinet nominees approved and he called on the Senate to approve his choices as soon as possible after January 20. He singled out the importance of getting his choices for defence, state, treasury and homeland security confirmed in short order.
Biden also mentioned he gave “serious consideration” to his former presidential rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, to be his labour secretary. But Biden said they agreed the move would be risky as a special election to fill Sanders’s Senate seat could put the Democrats’ soon-to-be Senate majority in peril.
Recall that Trump’s supporters invaded the Capitol during a joint session of Congress held to certify the electoral victory of Biden.
The invasion led to the death of four people while many others have been reportedly injured.
Congress leaders, however, reconvened after the riot and affirmed Biden’s Electoral College victory over Trump.
Political leaders across the world have condemned Trump’s action, with many accusing him of dragging democracy in the mud.
