Former House Speaker and Democratic Representative from California, Nancy Pelosi, has frequently emphasized the importance of upholding democratic norms and accepting electoral outcomes. However, her actions seem to contradict her statements. According to ABC News, she has chosen not to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Monday. While her office did not provide a specific reason for her absence, it is noteworthy that the 84-year-old recently sustained a broken hip due to a fall in Germany last month.
Pelosi is not the only notable figure to decline the invitation. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will also be absent from President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. In contrast, former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the ceremony, as stated in a brief announcement from the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama.
Additionally, a spokesperson for former President George W. Bush has confirmed that he and former First Lady Laura Bush plan to be present at the Capitol for the inauguration festivities. It is also worth mentioning that Michelle Obama did not attend the recent funeral services for Jimmy Carter, where all living former presidents were gathered, although other former first ladies were present, as reported by CBS News.
Since 2008, Michelle Obama has attended every inauguration, including Trump’s first in 2017, when she and her husband were leaving the White House. Reflecting on her experience at Trump’s inauguration in 2023, she remarked, “To sit on that stage and watch the opposite of what we represented on display, there was no diversity, there was no color on that stage. There was no reflection of the broader sense of America. Many people took pictures of me and they’re like, you weren’t in a good mood. No, I was not.”
She expressed on her podcast, “The Light Podcast,” that she wept for 30 minutes following the ceremony, stating, “that’s how much we were holding it together for eight years without really being able to show it all.”
These comments follow the viral moment last week when Donald Trump and Barack Obama engaged in a notably amicable conversation at the U.S. Capitol.
Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away last month at the age of 100, was honored during a state funeral at the National Cathedral on Thursday, attended by all living presidents as the nation observed a day of mourning.
When Vice President Harris took her seat in front of Obama and Trump, their conversation paused momentarily, but they quickly resumed. Trump leaned toward Obama, eliciting several laughs from him. Meanwhile, Melania Trump and Laura Bush, both former first ladies, sat on either side, facing forward.
The Clintons were seen conversing, while Bush appeared to wave to others in attendance.
Earlier this week, Harris made headlines by certifying the 2024 election results, which confirmed Trump’s victory and her significant defeat in the presidential race.
Harris has indicated that she does not intend to “go quietly into the night” following her loss in the 2024 presidential election.
During a segment on CNN, reporter Isaac Dovere disclosed that Harris has privately informed her supporters of her consideration to run for governor of California in 2026 or for president in 2028. She reportedly wishes for her “final act” not to be the certification of Trump’s election victory over her.
“We haven’t seen or heard much from Vice President Kamala Harris since she lost the election last month,” CNN’s Manu Raju informed viewers. “However, the Democratic Party is still grappling with the aftermath of Trump’s victory.”
