Special Poll
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will not be present at President-elect Trump’s inauguration this Monday, as confirmed by her spokesperson to The Hill. Pelosi, who recently underwent hip replacement surgery in Germany after a fall in Luxembourg last December, returned to Washington earlier in the month to welcome the new class of lawmakers. Although she is reportedly recovering well and in good spirits, her absence at the inauguration marks a deviation from the usual bipartisan attendance at such events.
In 2021, Trump himself did not attend President Biden’s inauguration, continuing a theme of sporadic attendance by high-profile figures at these ceremonies. Similarly, former First Lady Michelle Obama will miss this inauguration, though former President Obama and several other political dignitaries will attend.
No specific reasons were provided for Pelosi’s decision to skip the event, although she had attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. The relationship between Trump and Pelosi has been notably strained, characterized by public disagreements and political opposition. This tension was evident in moments such as Pelosi tearing up Trump’s State of the Union speech in 2020 and her vocal criticisms following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Despite not attending the inauguration, Pelosi, who was re-elected for her 20th term in the House, will need to continue engaging with the Trump administration in her congressional role. Her leadership and influence were particularly highlighted during the recent presidential campaign, marked by her behind-the-scenes advocacy and strategic political maneuvers.