A Constitutional Violation or Simply Sending the Wrong Message?

From COVID to Black Lives Matter and the Capitol riot, the nation experienced a turbulent year.
After a very turbulent year, the nation has experienced life-changing events from COVID to Black Lives Matter and the riots at the Capitol. We watched the nation go on lockdown and the economy nearly come to a complete stop, we witnessed a record number of people at the polls to ensure their voices were heard. All while former president Trump continued to chip away at this giant canyon of a divide he has caused in this country.
So, it was to no surprise that this inauguration was based on the idea of unity and rebuilding, about bridging that divide that the Trump administration has spent the last 4 years causing. Ensuring progression for the sake of the country, not a party was the foundation for President Biden’s speech.

While the last president to miss the inauguration of his predecessor was Andrew Johnson, 152 years ago, there has only been a handful in total.

All being one-term presidents, and Johnson like Trump was also impeached. Trump and Johnson both share “firsts” regarding impeachment, Johnson was the first president to be impeached, while Trump was the first president to be impeached twice.
A united front is something needed now than ever before, the United States Constitution does not require a president to attend the inauguration of his predecessor. Trump’s refusal to attend the inauguration of our now President Biden is his last swing of the ax, the last chip off the giant divided canyon. It is his last attempt at pushback and Trump’s refusal as a sitting president, while he has conceded and technically transferred powers his absence from the inauguration only showed he still has not accepted the nation’s decision.

“The people, the will of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed” — President Joe Biden.

While he has conceded Trump’s last act as president only sent the same message, he had been sending the last four years, but it also added more merit to the words of President Biden, and his call for unity, change, and true democracy. A message that was greatly felt and agreed upon with the 3 past presidents that were at the inauguration. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all attended the inauguration in support of not only the incoming President but in support of democracy and in support of the people’s right to vote. Trump’s only message sent by not attending is that he has zero respect for the people, the voting process, and the entire democratic process that put him into office in the first place.