Washington:
Outgoing U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen attended the inauguration of new President Joe Biden on Wednesday soon after skipping each a farewell ceremony for Donald Trump and the usual protocol of welcoming his successor to his property at the Naval Observatory.
Pence, whom some of Trump’s supporters throughout the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol had threatened to hang for refusing to attempt to overturn Biden’s Electoral College win in Congress, applauded the next vice president, Kamala Harris, as she arrived at the U.S. Capitol. Trump skipped the inauguration.
Pence, the Republican former Indiana governor, and his wife on Wednesday will fly property to Columbus, Indiana, exactly where they will be greeted by a group of supporters and close friends, according to a supply familiar with the plans. The couple plans to move back to Indiana later this year.
Pence was a loyal lieutenant all through Trump’s 4-year term. But he identified himself shunned by the outgoing president for days for not supporting his quest to overturn Biden’s victory primarily based on false claims of widespread voting fraud and irregularities, even though the two males sought to repair their ties ahead of leaving workplace.
Pence spoke with Harris final Thursday, marking the highest-level make contact with involving the outgoing and incoming administrations.
The father of a Marine Corps F-35 pilot, Pence and his wife thanked troops for their service throughout a final pay a visit to to U.S. troops at military bases in California and New York more than the weekend. Pence also met with National Guard troops guarding the Capitol, vowing to make certain a secure transition of energy.
Anita McBride, who served as chief of employees to former initially lady Laura Bush, mentioned Trump’s refusal to participate in Biden’s inauguration was a “sad break with tradition” that would leave Trump and his loved ones – and his supporters – devoid of closure.
McBride praised Pence for his actions in current weeks.
“He did what was right for the country despite intense pressure, and he did not buckle,” McBride told Reuters.
Pence, who certified Biden and Harris’s electoral win in Congress final week soon after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in try to cease the course of action, has not publicly spoken straight about the siege or the subsequent impeachment of Trump by the U.S. House of Representatives for inciting an insurrection.
But on Sunday, in his final speech as vice president, Pence praised the resilience of the American persons, adding, “I have faith that the day will come where we put these challenging times behind us.”
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