Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden will attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump in January

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden will attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump in January, the White House confirmed on Monday.

Donald Trump, who won the 2024 presidential election, is set to officially assume office in January next year. The announcement marks a shift from 2021, when Trump, then the outgoing president, broke with tradition by skipping Biden’s inauguration after losing the 2020 election.

In 2020, Trump lost to Joe Biden but refused to concede, alleging widespread voter fraud without evidence. Biden officially assumed the presidency in January 2021, but Trump declined to attend the ceremony, breaking a longstanding democratic custom in the United States.

However, President Biden has chosen not to follow that precedent. According to the White House, his decision to attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony reflects his commitment to upholding democratic values.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates told reporters, "The outgoing president had earlier pledged to attend the inauguration of whoever wins the 2024 election. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will honor that commitment and attend the ceremony."

Trump defeated Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election, securing his return to the White House for a second term. Trump has already finalized the structure of his incoming administration.

Bates emphasized that President Biden's participation in the inauguration demonstrates the strength of American democracy and the peaceful transfer of power, despite political differences.