President-elect Joe Biden’s upcoming inauguration will look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) revealed during his appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” the majority of Biden’s inauguration will be virtual.
“Look, we know what we’re in, and Joe Biden admitted very clear that he is going to lead by precept and example and so we will be setting an example with this inauguration,” Clyburn said.
He added, “It is going to be what we might call a hybrid. He’ll take the oath in the traditional way, but all of the inaugural festivities are going to be 80%, what you call virtual.”
Watch his comments below:
Clyburn weighed in on whether President Donald Trump should attend Biden’s inauguration.
“Does he have to be there? I don’t think so. Should he be there? Yes. This is not the only thing this president should do that he has not done,” Clyburn said.
He continued, “So the president can participate if he cares to, but if he doesn’t this country will move on without him.”
Clyburn explained Biden will most likely take the oath the usual way, but the events surrounding the swearing in will probably not happen.
“We have not figured out exactly how it is going to happen … So, I would suppose that he will take the oath in the traditional fashion,” Clyburn said
He went on, “We can do that while socially distancing, but the other stuff, the luncheon afterward probably won’t take place, as well as the festivities of the evening will probably be disbursed out among the 50 states.”
During a CNN interview Thursday, Biden shared his thoughts on whether he believes it is “important” for Trump to attend his inauguration, as IJR previously reported.
“I think it would — important only in one sense,” Biden said. “Not in a personal sense. Important in the sense that we are able to demonstrate at the end of this chaos that he’s created that there is peaceful transfer of power with the competing parties standing there shaking hands and moving on.”
