Are GOP leaders glad to see Trump gone? Mitch McConnell, Mike Pence and Lindsey Graham snub farewell event
That Republican leaders are skipping outgoing President, Donald Trump's farewell and attending church with President-elect Joe Biden, leads to one big question: Are they happy to see Trump gone? According to the latest reports, Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy will be giving the farewell a miss.
Axios's Alayna Treene reckons, "Their decision is a clear sign of unity before Biden takes the oath of office." Although Vice President Mike Pence is also skipping the farewell, he will reportedly not be in attendance to be with Biden attending church either. A tweet by Washington Post's White House journo, Josh Dawsey says the timing of both events was logistically challenging. McConnell was very vocal about his opinions as he said on the Senate floor that the mob that attacked the Capitol “was fed lies. They were provoked by the president and other powerful people".
VP Pence is not expected to attend President Trump's sendoff at Joint Air Force Base Andrews tomorrow morning, per White House officials. He is attending the inauguration later in the day, and aides say it would be logistically challenging for the vice president to do both.
— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) January 19, 2021
Following the mass, Biden will enter the US Capitol building, which was recently under attack from Trump supporters during the congressional validation of Biden’s victory. The new President is not a new face at the Capitol as he has served for over 30 years as a Senator and later presided over as a vice president to former President, Barack Obama. On Wednesday, he will enter the building from the East Front. His swearing-in ceremony will be attended by three former US presidents — Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, George W Bush and Laura Bush, and Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
Trump's farewell will take place at the Joint Base Andrews where he has requested for the event to also include the military, a band also the possibility of a flyover. As far as Biden's calendar goes, he will be attending the service at St. Matthews Church that's expected to start at 8:45 am. He will be inaugurated as the 46th POTUS on the steps of the Capitol at noon on Wednesday. The Independent says the list of invitees for Trump's farewell comprises of administration officials including those who have been "critical" of him during his tenure.
Adding to the list of officials snubbing the farewell was Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who told TMZ that he won't be attending the event. The site also added that Graham garnered flak from pro-Trump supporters last week when he was walking through Washington airport after he voted to authorize the 2020 Electoral College results. He was chased by Trump supporters calling him a "traitor."
John Kelly, the former chief of staff was one of the lawmakers who received an invitation. This comes after he told CNN he would vote for Trump's removal from office. He's also one among the few who's skipping the farewell. Earlier, Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs tweeted out the details. "Trump’s “ceremony” is scheduled for 8 a.m. at the military base where the outgoing president will make his final departure aboard Air Force One. He’ll be 1st living US president in more than a century to choose not to attend regular exchange of power," her tweet read.
NEW: White House sends invitations for Trump’s departure event at Joint Base Andrews—starts at 8a Wednesday.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 18, 2021
Guests must arrive between 6a and 7:15a; may bring up to five other people; and must wear mask, the invites say, according to one shared with me by an ex Trump official.