Voters are worried about post-election violence, implications for democracy, AP-NORC poll finds
PBS NewsHourOCT 20 2024
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday that outgoing US Pres. Joe Biden will attend the inauguration of his successor next year regardless of whether Vice Pres. Kamala Harris or former Pres. Donald Trump wins the election.
She added that Biden "believes in the peaceful transfer of power" and that attending the inauguration is "not about him" but rather "what the American people need to see."
This comes as Biden — who had already quit the presidential race — suggested in August that he would attend a possible Trump inauguration next year, claiming to "have good manners, not like [Trump]."
Democrats support a peaceful transfer of power whether Harris or Trump wins the presidential election, and that Biden will attend the inauguration ceremony regardless of the outcome further proves such a commitment. Meanwhile, Republicans have indicated they will not accept election results if Trump loses.
REven if Biden is well-intentioned and truly believes that this announcement can ease tensions ahead of Election Day, his fellow Democrats are quietly planning how to block Trump from returning to the White House. As they usually do, Democrats will challenge the election in the event of a Republican win.