Jan 9, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Reports: Pence to attend Biden's inauguration

 Vice President Mike Pence reads the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress

Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/Pool/Getty Images

Vice President Mike Pence will attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20, per multiple reports Saturday.

Why it matters: It's a major break from President Trump, who said Friday he won't attend.

  • Pence has served as a loyal lieutenant and ally of Trump during his presidency.
  • But Trump banned the vice president's chief of staff from the White House last Wednesday after Pence rejected intense pressure to violate the Constitution to deny Biden his office.

Of note: Biden told reporters Friday that Pence would be "welcome" to attend and "we'd be honored to have him there, and to move forward in the transition," CNN notes.

  • "It's important that as much as we can stick to what have been the historical precedents of how an administration changes should be maintained," Biden said.
  • Pence's representatives did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

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