The inauguration of the president of the United States has a long history and is a symbolic and ceremonial event. However, some of these enduring traditions will be broken once more as the 2025 U.S. inauguration draws near. The inauguration of the 47th president of the United States is turning out to be unlike any other time in history, with prominent members of the Democratic Party electing to boycott the event and former presidents choosing not to participate in the swearing-in of their successors.
Will a New Inaugural Tradition Be Started by Trump’s Return to the White House?
George Washington’s 1789 inauguration as the first American president began a line of customs that have persisted for more than 200 years. These include the inauguration speech and the ceremonial oath of office. However, some of these customs were broken four years ago. Claiming that the 2020 election was stolen from him, Republican Donald Trump declined to attend the inauguration of Joe Biden, his successor, for the first time in more than 150 years.
On January 20, 2025, Trump will formally return to the White House. The inaugural date is set in stone, as required by the U.S. Constitution, but the celebrations surrounding it are anything but conventional. Democrats have already drawn a comparison between this time’s peaceful handover of power and the bloody Capitol riot four years prior.
Why Are Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama Not Attending the Inauguration?
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, will not be present for the incoming president’s inauguration, a dramatic break from the customs seen in previous inaugurations. Many people were taken aback by this week’s announcement, given that the Obamas attended both of Trump’s prior inaugurations despite their disagreements. Although Mrs. Obama was present for Trump’s first swearing-in in 2017, she later voiced her displeasure with the event, pointing out the lack of diversity on stage.
The Obama administration did not precisely explain the decision to forego this year’s event. This announcement came just days after Mrs. Obama decided not to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s burial, which made the timing noteworthy. Her husband was spotted conversing with Trump at the funeral.
It’s unknown if the choice to forgo the inauguration was made for personal or political reasons. However, some people think it might have something to do with the current political atmosphere and the tensions that still exist from Trump’s reign. After all, the pair has already criticized the former president.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other well-known Democrats have also said they will not attend the event. Although no official boycott has been planned, many Democratic Party members discreetly avoid the inaugural ceremony by choosing not to go.
Why Is JD Vance Not Being Invited by Vice President Kamala Harris?
The fact that Vice President Kamala Harris did not invite her successor, JD Vance, to the customary meeting at the vice president’s home represents yet another departure from precedent. This meeting is usually regarded as a cordial transfer of power in which the departing vice president provides guidance and wisdom to their replacement.
However, individuals who know the situation claim that Harris has declined the invitation because of other urgent issues, such as responding to the deadly wildfires in Los Angeles. According to these sources, the two vice presidents may not be friendly, just as they were four years ago when Harris succeeded Mike Pence. The Pence camp contends that a covert offer was made at the time, disputing the Harris camp’s allegation that no official invitation was ever given.
In the overall context of the inauguration, these private disputes might not seem like much. Still, they are a stark reminder of the profound political divisions that have only widened over time.
Will President Biden Hold an Exit Press Conference?
As President Biden’s time in office ends, he has yet to plan an exit press conference, a tradition followed by recent outgoing presidents, including George W. Bush and Obama. While Trump did not observe this tradition due to the acrimony following the 2020 election, Biden’s reluctance to hold such a conference marks a continued break from recent precedent. His team has long maintained that Biden has interacted with the media regularly and will continue to do so in other settings, such as the sit-down interview with MSNBC scheduled for later this week.
However, Biden’s administration experienced a sharp drop in news conferences compared to his predecessors. In sharp contrast to the frequency of press conferences throughout prior administrations, Biden held an average of 9.4 each year, according to the American Presidency Project at the University of Santa Barbara.
What Are the Implications of These Tradition Changes for Upcoming U.S. Inaugurations?
The changes in the 2025 U.S. inauguration are part of a more significant trend in the evolution of American political traditions. These departures from the past highlight how divisive and aggressive American politics have become in many respects. These shifts reflect both the political realities of the time and the evolving relationship between political leaders and the public, whether it is the declining practice of holding an exit press conference, the refusal of former presidents to attend inaugurations, or the decision of significant figures to skip the ceremony.
The 2025 U.S. inauguration will be unlike any previous one as the formal swearing-in date for the 47th president draws near. It is unclear how these developments will affect upcoming inaugurations, but they have upended the once-firm traditions of bipartisan cooperation and smooth transitions. The topic of what new customs will result from this volatile political period is the topic. Time will tell.
