Trump to snub Biden’s inauguration ceremony

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said he will not attend his successor Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20 as political rivals sought to oust the incumbent president before the scheduled transition.

Mr Trump tweeted to confirm he would not be present at the Capitol when Mr Biden takes the oath of office just hours after he made a video statement finally acknowledging that Mr Biden had won the race to the White House.

Traditionally the outgoing president and president-elect travel together to the ceremony at the Capitol from the White House.

In the earlier video statement, Mr Trump committed to a “seamless transition of power” as he conceded the race and condemned supporters who rioted at the US Capitol.

Mr Trump spoke out against the violence seen in Washington DC on Wednesday, calling it a “heinous attack” that left him “outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem”.

He also said now that Congress has certified the results, the “new administration will be inaugurated on January 20” and his “focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power”.

Mr Trump did not address his role in inciting the violence in his video.

Five people died as a result of the disorder at the Capitol, including a police officer who had been struck by a fire extinguisher.

But he did tell his supporters that, while he knows they are “disappointed”, he wanted them to know “our incredible journey is only just beginning”.

House Democrats announced they would impeach the president if outgoing Vice-President Mike Pence fails to work with the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, which would remove Mr Trump from office.

Mr Trump offered no clues for how he would spend his final hours in office. Mr Biden will become president at noon local time on January 20 regardless of Mr Trump’s plans.

Mr Pence is still expected to attend the inauguration which will see Kamala Harris will take over the reins of the vice-presidency.

The US Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters” during the Wednesday riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the melee.

Mr Sicknick was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, two law enforcement officials said.

The rampage that has shocked the world and left the country on edge forced the resignations of three top

The American flag is lowered to half-staff atop the US Capitol Building following the death of a US Capitol Police Officer injured when a pro-Trump mob stormed and entered the Capitol Building on Wednesday

Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach.

It led politicians to demand a review of operations and an FBI briefing over what they called a “terrorist attack”. And it is prompting a broader reckoning over Mr Trump’s tenure in office and what comes next for a torn nation.

Protesters were urged by Mr Trump during a rally near the White House earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where politicians were scheduled to confirm Mr Biden’s presidential victory. The mob swiftly broke through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the halls, sending politicians into hiding.

One protester, a white woman, was shot to death by Capitol Police, and there were dozens of arrests.

Three other people died after “medical emergencies” related to the breach.

Joe Raedle >