On Tuesday, President Biden indicated he might attend former President Trump’s inauguration if Trump wins in November, contrasting his own civility with his predecessor’s behavior. “I have good manners, unlike him,” Biden remarked when questioned about a potential January 2025 inauguration.
Trump, who did not attend Biden’s inauguration in January 2021 after losing the 2020 election, has been a focal point of Biden’s remarks. Biden exited the 2024 presidential race last month, subsequently endorsing Vice President Harris, who is now the Democratic nominee.
In addition, Biden addressed concerns about his rhetoric following last month’s assassination attempt on Trump. When asked if branding Trump a threat to American security constituted a moderation of rhetoric, Biden responded, “That’s just a statement. That’s a factual statement.”
After the shooting, Biden, who was still in the presidential race, made a prime-time appeal for reducing political tensions in the country.
Biden is scheduled to address the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, marking the beginning of the event. Since Biden’s exit from the race, Harris has gained traction in national and swing-state polls, overtaking Trump in the polling averages reported by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ.