Donald Trump has still not conceded the presidential election he handily lost to former vice president Joe Biden even though he was defeated in the electoral and popular vote. Trump is trying to cling to power after sustaining a public narcissistic injury, and the president will be the target of ongoing investigations once Biden takes the oath of office. The status of his office will no longer protect Trump once he vacates the White House.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, President-elect Joe Biden explained the importance of demonstrating a peaceful transfer of power at his inauguration. When Tapper first asked Biden if he “thinks it’s important” for Trump to attend his inauguration, the President-elect tried to stifle a laugh with a big grin on his face. And it is laughable that Trump is so petty, but the president has refused to promise a peaceful transition of power, so Biden got more serious.
“It is totally his decision.” he said, “It is of no personal consequence to me, but I think it is to the country.”
Biden noted Trump’s refusal to concede, saying, “These kinds of things happen in tin-horn dictatorships.” And he said he hoped Trump would attend the inauguration to set an example to other nations on the democratic process.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
Watch:
On Friday, Trump’s former adviser, Kellyanne Conway, admitted that Biden secured a victory over the president, and added that our country needs a peaceful transition of power. “We want the engines of government to keep going,” she said.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) recently said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he would like to see Trump at Biden’s inauguration.
“I hope the president is there on inaugural day,” he said, even though the Republican declined to explicitly call Biden the president-elect.
Trump sycophant Lindsey Graham also said last weekend that Trump should attend.
“If Biden winds up winning, yeah, I think so,” Graham said. “I just think it’s good for the country. It’d be good for him.”
But, he did win, Linds. Geez.
There are only a few presidents in history that have not attended their successor’s inauguration. The last one, I think, was Andrew Johnson in 1869. And Trump will down in history as the first since then that was so butthurt that he couldn’t face his loss if he declines to attend. Trump loves saying, “America First,” but it’s always been Trump first. It’s remarkable that we even have to be having this conversation. But, I loved Biden’s laugh, though.
Featured image via screen capture
