Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush will not be present at the customary inaugural brunch for President-elect Donald Trump. As reported by NBC News, Obama received an invitation to the luncheon but chose to decline. Similarly, sources have confirmed that Clinton was also invited but has decided not to attend.
In contrast, Bush’s team stated that they are not aware of any invitation to the luncheon. Additionally, another source informed NBC News that former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton received an invitation but will not be participating in the event.
Despite their absence from the inaugural luncheon, all three former presidents are expected to attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony earlier that day. The former first ladies will also be present at the ceremony, with the exception of Michelle Obama.
The office of the Obamas did not provide a reason for the First Lady’s absence. It is noteworthy that Michelle Obama also did not attend former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, marking her as the only living first lady not present among all current and former presidents and first ladies.
Former presidents distance themselves from Trump. A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team did not respond promptly to inquiries regarding the absences. It is important to highlight that Inauguration Day is one of the rare occasions when all living former presidents gather to witness the swearing-in of a new leader.
In 2021, Trump chose not to attend Biden’s inauguration, maintaining his belief that he won the 2020 Presidential Election. During the 2024 presidential campaign, none of the living former presidents endorsed Trump’s candidacy.
Bush, a member of the Republican Party, refrained from making an endorsement, while Obama and Clinton were actively involved in campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris. In 2017, the Clintons were present at a luncheon following Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton. During this gathering, the business magnate prompted the audience to give her a standing ovation.
“I was very honoured, very, very honoured when I heard that President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton were coming today,” Trump remarked at that time. The tradition of the inaugural brunch can be traced back to a luncheon organized by the Senate Committee on Arrangements in 1897.
As stated by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), the event was originally hosted by then-President William McKinley at the Capitol. In 1953, the JCCIC took over the responsibility of hosting the luncheon for the incoming president and vice president along with their guests. Prominent politicians who attend this event typically deliver speeches and offer toasts to the new administration.
