Outgoing US President Donald Trump says he will not attend Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
Vice President Mike Pence is however reportedly planning to attend the ceremony.
Trump will become only the fourth president in US history to skip the inauguration of his successor and the first since President Andrew Johnson missed Ulysses S Grant’s swearing-in ceremony in 1869.
But responding, Biden says Trump’s decision not to attend inauguration is “one of the few things he and I have ever agreed on”.
“It’s a good thing, him not showing up,” Biden said.
“He has exceeded even my worst notions about him. He’s been an embarrassment to the country, embarrassed us around the world. [He’s] not worthy to hold that office.
“I am focused now on us taking control as president and vice-president on the 20th and to get our agenda moving as quickly as we can.”
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott is “urging” Trump “to reconsider his decision to skip” Biden’s inauguration.
“I plan to attend and believe it is an important tradition that demonstrates the peaceful transfer of power to our people and to the world,” he wrote on Twitter.
Scott, a Trump ally, was one of seven senators who supported an objection to Pennsylvania’s electoral votes as Congress tallied them Wednesday.
The objection failed and Biden’s victory was certified early Thursday morning.
