Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will skip President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration next week, while former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will attend a post-swearing lunch at the U.S. Capitol. He is not expected to attend.
Pelosi (D-Calif.), 84, an ardent Trump opponent who is recovering from hip replacement surgery, attended the inauguration of the 45th president in 2017.
Her publicist first confirmed the decision. ABC News reportedI contacted multiple retailers, but no explanation was given.
Pelosi will join a handful of House Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of the Bronx and Queens, in skipping the Jan. 20 celebration.
Former first lady Michelle Obama also said her husband plans to attend, but will not attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Trump, 78, missed President Biden's inauguration in January 2021 after his claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Biden failed and there was no evidence.
Pelosi has been attending important ceremonial events, including the certification of the 2024 general election on January 6, although she has had to rely on a walker while recovering from hip surgery following a fall at the Grand Duke's Palace in Luxembourg last month.
Pelosi and Trump clashed frequently during the final two years of her first term as speaker, with the conflict reaching its peak in 2020 when Pelosi tore up a copy of Trump's State of the Union address. The high tide has been reached.
During Pelosi's time as speaker, the House voted to impeach Trump twice, and in August, Pelosi said, without mentioning the former or future president by name, that “my goal in life is to never ever step foot in the White House again.” The goal was not to step in,” he declared.
Trump also pointed slings and arrows at Pelosi, calling her a “perverse person” and slamming her as “evil, sick and crazy.”
Meanwhile, Clinton, Bush and Obama will attend the swearing-in but will not remain for lunch. NBC News reported Thursday.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also reportedly refraining from eating lunch.
The luncheon dates back to President William McKinley's inauguration in 1897 and is sponsored by the Congressional Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The newspaper has reached out to representatives for Ms. Clinton, Mr. Bush, Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump for comment.
