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- Vice President Mike Pence decided to attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, multiple media outlets reported.
- President Donald Trump announced Friday he would not attend.
- Biden said he agreed with Trump’s decision not to go, but added that Pence was “welcome” to attend and that he would be “honored” if he did.
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Vice President Mike Pence will attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20, The Washington Post and other media outlets reported Saturday evening.
The decision comes just one day after President Donald Trump announced he would not attend the inauguration, and three days after a deadly and violent siege at the US Capitol interrupted Pence as he presided over Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory.
A number of those who participated in the riots directly threatened the vice president himself, repeatedly shouting, “Hang Mike Pence!” as they stormed the building.
Pence faced immense pressure from Trump to reject Biden’s victory during Congress’ certification, and instead declare Trump the winner. Pence refused, explaining that believed it would be unconstitutional for a vice president to unilaterally decide the results of the 2020 election.
Pence has also, so far, opposed calls to remove Trump from office via the 25th Amendment.
Biden on Friday called Trump’s decision not to attend his inauguration was “one of the few things he and I ever agreed on.”
But he added that Pence was “welcome” to attend, and said he believed it was important to follow historic precedents when it came to the presidential transition.
“I’d be honored to have him there and to move forward in the transition,” Biden said.
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