Pelosi not attending T**** inauguration

by Jesse Byrnes, Mychael Schnell and Lauren Irwin - 01/16/25 11:12 AM ET

 

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will not be attending President-elect T****’s inauguration on Monday, her spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.

Pelosi returned to Washington earlier this month for the entrance of the new class of lawmakers after undergoing hip replacement surgery in Germany following a fall in Luxembourg in December. Her team said she was on the mend and in good spirits.

Senior leaders of both parties typically attend presidential inaugurations, though Trump skipped President Biden’s inaugural event in 2021.

Former first lady Michelle Obama also won’t be attending Trump’s second inauguration, though former President Obama will attend along with a number of other political figures.

Pelosi’s spokesperson did not share a reason for the former Democratic leader skipping the Monday event. The former Speaker attended T****’s first inauguration in 2017.

Trump and Pelosi’s relationship has been nothing short of rocky.

The pair worked together when Trump first entered the White House, in a bipartisan attempt to work across the aisle under the new administration.

That relationship quickly fell to pieces, with name calling and harsh words aimed at each other. As Speaker during Trump’s first term, Pelosi emerged as one of his top adversaries.

Pelosi notably tore up a copy of T****’s State of the Union speech in 2020. The moment came after Trump appeared to ignore Pelosi offering him her hand before he began his address.

Their bitter dynamics were on full display when T**** was indicted on charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Pelosi said she would “never forgive” Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

News of Pelosi not attending was first reported by ABC News.

Pelosi is largely viewed as the orchestrator of the events that unfolded during President Biden’s campaign. After Biden and T****’s June debate and calls for the president to step aside ahead of the election, Pelosi held conversations with other lawmakers to urge Biden to withdraw from the race and allow someone else the chance to take on Trump.

While Pelosi won’t be in attendance for T****’s inauguration, she will still be required to work with the incoming president, as she easily won re-election for her 20th House term.

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