This is good what is happening and all I can say it’s about damn time. What took you so long? Traditions are traditions and one thing about politics in a democracy is that you wipe the ground with each other during a campaign but then quickly kiss and make up and unify for the good of the nation. That is how adults have been doing it since 1897, when William McKinley began the tradition of an Inaugural luncheon, after the Inauguration ceremony, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), which hosts the luncheon.
Also, back in 1953 the JCCIC began hosting the luncheon for the incoming president and vice president and their guests. But I guess J.D. Vance is skipping his own Inauguration so he can watch football. I still can’t figure that one out. If I was a conspiracy theorist I would say he doesn’t want to be at the Inauguration because he knows something’s going to happen, but I’m not so I won’t.
In all events, to today’s news, neither the Obamas nor the Clintons will be at Donald Trump’s inaugural luncheon. George W. Bush says he’s “tracking” his invitation but the word is that he’s not coming. There has been an en masse decision from the three remaining living presidents and they say uh uh.
And it did not have to be this way. Bill and Hillary Clinton did attend Trump’s 2017 Inauguration and the luncheon. But Trump was in his right mind (relatively speaking) in those days and said, “I was very honored, very, very honored when I heard that President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton was coming today.”
That’s the way you do it. But Trump screwed up when he didn’t attend Joe Biden’s Inauguration. And the kerfuffle with Melania being discourteous to Jill Biden — twice, both coming in and going out — has not gone unrecorded and unfelt. Trump isn’t getting the courtesy that all other presidents have gotten because he, himself, refused to extend the same courtesies. And so did his no-class wife. She could have played her part differently as well.
So now in a time to rejoice and unify a lot of key Democrats are telling Trump to pound sand.
Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton also received an invitation to the inaugural luncheon but will not attend, according to a third source familiar with the matter.
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the absences.
All three former presidents, however, will attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day, according to their teams. The former first ladies will also attend the swearing-in ceremony except for Michelle Obama, according to the Obamas’ office. No reason was provided. Michelle Obama also did not attend the funeral service last week for former President Jimmy Carter, making hers the only absence among all living current and former presidents and first ladies.
Inauguration Day is one of the only occasions when all former living presidents usually congregate to usher in the next administration. Trump, however, declined to attend President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
And that was the seed that Trump planted. He could have gone a different way. He could have respected tradition, Melania could have respected tradition, and then they would be getting that respect back. You reap what you sow. Sow disrespect and disinterest and that’s what you will get back.
The message here is a clear one. The three presidents and spouses (with the exception of Michelle Obama) are saying they’re willing to do the minimum, which is show up for the Inauguration — but they’re not willing to party with the Trumps. And this is how it’s going to be. People will observe the minimal tradition but no more. And frankly? I think that in solidarity with Joe Biden that all the former presidents should skip the Inauguration as well. (Biden says he will attend the Inauguration, I don’t know about the luncheon.)
The list of people not coming to Trump’s Inauguration will grow as the days tick down. And let’s see what the crowds look like. Mother Nature is kicking in her two cents. Possibly there’s a blizzard coming for D.C. At the very least it will be very cold.
If there’s a blizzard it would be poetic justice. This is a miserable day in American history, one of our worst, why not have the elements reflect it?
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Michelle…my Belle. Finally someone with the guts to defy this abomination. I wonder if it’s a coincidence she’s a black lady? See Nancy…why you should avoid calling out Ms. Crockett? Black women, in my experience, are authentic. As anyone can see…that’s a rarity in the big money world of politics.
You can’t serve two masters…you will love one and hate the other. Reportedly said by Jesus. Michelle will not bow down for this white supremacist. Sad to see how many are willing to do so.
Michelle never made any secret of her disdain for politics, but she, being a class act, did her duties perfectly when required, and as a result, was one of the finest First ladies in our history.
Now she’s making no secret of her loathing (not mere disdain) for Trumpler and his enablers, and would that more would do the same by staying away from the inauguration. Will Liz Cheney, another woman with spine and standards, be there? I fervently hope not. The ones who do show up despite their true feelings will say they’re respecting the office rather than the man, but that’s far too subtle a distinction for the MAGAts or the media. And if they think being there will millofy Trumpler, think again: if you’re his enemy now, you’re his enemy for life. Forget that at your peril.
“Millofy?” Did you mean “mollify?”
Probably. I know I typo i’s and o’s all the time, and sometimes even u’s, because they are all right there together.