Iran Press/ Iran news: President Donald Trump said Friday he won't attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20, undercutting his message a day earlier that he would work to ensure a "smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power" to his successor.
Trump offered no clues for how he would spend his final hours in office, and will be the first incumbent president since Andrew Johnson to skip his successor's swearing-in. Traditionally, the incoming and outgoing presidents ride to the US Capitol together for the ceremony, as a symbol of the nation's peaceful transition, ABC reported.
Trump's comments come two days after a violent mob of his supporters occupied the Capitol for several hours as lawmakers were tallying the electoral votes that certified Biden's victory. Biden will become president at noon on Jan. 20 regardless of Trump's plans.
"To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th," Trump tweeted. The move had been widely expected, as Trump for months claimed victory in the election and promulgated claims of voter fraud.
On Thursday, with 12 days left in his term, Trump finally acknowledged he'll peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat.
Trump led off a video from the White House Thursday by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end - though he declined to mention Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost.
Trump supporters on Wednesday stormed into the Congress building and tried to enter the building as the counting of the electoral college was underway. Four protesters and a police officer died in the chaos.
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