As Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, the Democratic Party is divided over whether to attend the ceremony. Many Democrats, still reeling from his contentious election victory, are struggling with whether showing up would imply tacit approval of Trump’s divisive rhetoric and policies.
Several high-profile Democratic figures, including Representatives John Lewis and Maxine Waters, have already announced they will boycott the event, citing concerns over Trump’s legitimacy and the divisiveness of his campaign. Lewis, a civil rights icon, has called Trump an illegitimate president, while Waters has vowed not to “normalize” his behavior. Other Democratic figures, including former Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry, have also expressed reluctance to attend, though some have not ruled it out entirely.
However, there are Democrats who believe attending the inauguration is an important gesture of maintaining a peaceful transition of power. Former President Barack Obama, who has remained publicly neutral on Trump’s election, is expected to attend. Some Democrats argue that attending could help foster future cooperation, especially on shared priorities like infrastructure and job creation.
The debate highlights the larger polarization within the country and the Democratic Party, with many fearing that boycotting the inauguration could alienate moderate voters. As Trump’s inauguration draws near, Democrats face a difficult choice: whether to resist the new president or find a way to work with his administration, navigating the deep divisions that have characterized American politics since the 2016 election.
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