Former Vice President Dan Quayle said he regrets President Trump‘s decision not to attend President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, making him the fourth president in history to snub a successor on his inauguration day.
“I think it’s unfortunate. I wish that he had, or was going to attend the inauguration,” Quayle said, recalling his own 1989 swearing-in, alongside then-President George H. W. Bush. “Tradition is not necessarily his strong suit … But my good friend, Mike Pence, will be there, my fellow Hoosier. He’ll be there, and I will be there … That’ll add a little bit of support for the inauguration that’ll take place tomorrow.”
Quayle, 73, served as vice president from 1989 to 1993. The Bush administration was succeeded by Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore after one term.
Trump announced weeks ago he would not attend Biden’s inauguration and will leave Washington, D.C., for Florida in the morning. Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend Mass with Biden in the morning and then head to the swearing-in ceremony.
Biden will be sworn in along with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Harris will make history as the country’s first woman and black person to hold the office of the vice presidency.
