Trump will have to attend Biden's inauguration

By still not officially conceding defeat in the election, Donald Trump has given every indication that he might bypass the Joe Biden inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill on January 20. That would be a mistake and would look like a seriously discourteous and unconstitutional decision on Trump's part. It's not just about the next president, it's about the presidency as an institution. The outgoing president, as it were, gives his blessing to the incoming president. Giving any sort of blessing to Biden I can see would be difficult for Trump when he has tweeted pretty well every day since November that he not "Sleepy Joe" won the election. But he should turn up in his long overcoat and red tie and sit next to all the other past presidents and not look too miserable. The only worry is that Trump might decide to say something too loudly during or after Biden has made his inaugural presidential speech. Famously, after Trump had finished his extraordinary inaugural speech on January 20 2017 in which he effectivey said the whole country was in decline and falling apart after eight years of Barack Obama, George W Bush turned to Hillary Clinton and muttered, "Well that was some weird shit". I can well imagine what Trump might want to say after listening to Biden promising the earth and it won't be kind. But on the other hand who would he whisper it to? Certainly not Obama or George W or Bill Clinton. They are not exactly mates of his. So perhaps he would just sit there with his glum expression that we have seen a lot of in these last few weeks. Lindsey Graham, his senator buddy, thinks Trump should attend the ceremony. So there is every chance he will. As for Biden, he will have to stand there speaking to the world and try not to be put off by the thought that his predecessor is probably grimacing behind him.