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Summary

Former Presidents Obama, Clinton, and Bush, along with Hillary Clinton, will not attend Trump's inaugural lunch. Bush did not receive an invitation.

However, all three former presidents and their spouses, except Michelle Obama, will attend Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

The inaugural lunch, a tradition since 1897, typically includes speeches and toasts for the new administration.

None of the living former presidents endorsed Trump's candidacy, with Obama and Clinton actively campaigning for his opponents.

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[-] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 7 points 3 hours ago

I hope they survive, such bravery

[-] nomy@lemmy.zip 2 points 19 minutes ago

Sarcasm?

The ruling class will face no harm, they're all in the same club. They might tut tut and waggle their fingers but then they'll retire to their gated communities.

[-] BmeBenji@lemm.ee 6 points 4 hours ago

That’ll show him!

[-] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago
[-] CouncilOfFriends@slrpnk.net 3 points 4 hours ago

Trump could think this is a tragedy which calls for flying flags at half-staff

[-] Soulg@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

Half-mast*

/s

[-] leadore@lemmy.world 10 points 11 hours ago

Trump didn't attend Biden's inauguration, why should Biden feel he has to attend Trump's? (I know this is about the lunch, but still). Obama and the Clintons should take a pass too. They think they have to go to somehow prove something like they're not petty or that the country isn't really falling apart or whatever, but all they're proving is that they're A-OK with the rise of fascism in the US. God I wish they'd show some spine just this once.

[-] SmilingSolaris@lemmy.world 2 points 40 minutes ago

Liberals have always chosen fascism over any kind of leftism. They would rather a Nazi than a socialist

[-] varjen@lemmy.world 14 points 15 hours ago

That'll show him!

[-] TempermentalAnomaly@lemmy.world 6 points 16 hours ago

The fight against fascism begins.

[-] skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 14 hours ago

Not with guns, or knives, or even pens, but with neglected big macs drying out on a chafing dish.

[-] SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world 61 points 1 day ago

I'm sure they're grown-ups and can get their own McDonald's.

[-] BleatingZombie@lemmy.world 37 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I still think about how cold all that is whenever I see this photo

Some of the best athletes in the US ... being fed cold ~~McDonald's~~ Wendy's

[-] Jayb151@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago

Whoa whoa, that looks like Wendy's... Let's not fuck around here man. Can't pass that up

[-] KingJalopy@lemm.ee 4 points 22 hours ago

I can't stand Wendy's. It's consistently bad every time I've eaten it.

[-] pyre@lemmy.world 20 points 22 hours ago

I guess Obama saw people's reaction to him joking around with him like old pals during Carter's funeral.

[-] TechAnon@lemm.ee 1 points 3 hours ago

Did you expect Obama (of all people) to be unkind at another man's (let alone a former president's) funeral?

[-] pyre@lemmy.world 3 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

wish, not expect. what i expected him to do was order another drone strike on brown children. you know for old times' sake

[-] TechAnon@lemm.ee 2 points 1 hour ago

Order a drone strike at or during a former president's funeral? I'm not following what you're talking about. Are we on the same topic?

[-] irreticent@lemmy.world 3 points 51 minutes ago
[-] wpb@lemmy.world 11 points 19 hours ago

It's a big club and you aren't in it

[-] Mobiuthuselah@lemm.ee 78 points 1 day ago

I'm sure they can go to McDonald's on their own

[-] JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Neither is Henry Kissinger, first time he's ever missed one

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 5 points 15 hours ago

He lived entirely too long.

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[-] affiliate@lemmy.world 130 points 1 day ago

i will also not be attending his inaugural lunch. i bet that will show him

[-] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago

Idk sounds like woke socialism to me

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[-] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 1 day ago

However, all three former presidents and their spouses, except Michelle Obama, will attend Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

Couldn't pass up the more prestigious event that's going to be watched by the entire world.

In comparison, passing up a work lunch with a bunch of congresspeople that probably won't even be televized doesn't sound like taking much of a stand against the fascist takeover..

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

It was going to be McDonalds anyway.

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[-] kandoh@reddthat.com 15 points 1 day ago

Our base is devastated to learn that we see the people stripping them of rights and money as good friends and colleagues, what do we do?

Release a story where two of the past Democrat Presidents won't attend a celebratory lunch with the guy who we're handing unimaginable power to!

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 54 points 1 day ago

Wait, they actually invited Obama and Clinton but not Bush? What?

[-] dhork@lemmy.world 81 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It makes sense, when you consider their roles in the Conservative Cinematic Universe. Obama and the Clintons are the heels, the side that is meant to lose the pro wrestling match, the one which his audience boos. He wants them there in his moment of triumph so he can (metaphorically, thank god) teabag them to thunderous applause.

Bush is meant to be on his side, though, since Trump is meant to own the loyalty of the entire party. Since Bush did not immediately do so, he is actually worse. At least the Clintons are playing their assigned role. Bush is a traitor to the Party, which means he is a traitor to Trump personally, so Bush needs to be pushed to the margins. (Let's hope that's the extent of it.)

[-] r00ty@kbin.life 42 points 1 day ago

You know. I can actually imagine Trump sees the whole thing like a WWE match.

[-] HK65@sopuli.xyz 30 points 1 day ago

Not just Trump, most of his voters as well.

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[-] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago

Conservatives hate Bush. He was supposed to be their "First Trump" an idiot trust fund baby that'll do everything they say. They wanted to fully occupy most of the middle east but Bush Sr told Jr no.

[-] jaybone@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago

He was Cheney’s puppet though. It’s interesting how decades later, on left leaning social tech platforms like Lemmy and Reddit (maybe earlier Reddit) how history seems to have recorded him (to some anyway) as the good Republican. As the nice guy. The guy you want to have a beer with.

[-] Bronzebeard@lemm.ee 7 points 20 hours ago

The "beer with" thing was part of his election campaign rhetoric. That was part of the Republican war on intelligence.

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[-] Churlish_Witness@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago

He could've said something during the election. He chose not to.

[-] Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Maybe they forgot that there were two Bushes and only remember the one that died.

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[-] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 15 points 1 day ago

Regan is also not attending

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[-] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 day ago

The inaugural lunch, a tradition since 1897, typically includes speeches and toasts for the new administration.

Anyone have a sense of how rare it is for living ex presidents to dodge it? Feels pretty rare but I don't know.

Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton also received an invitation to the inaugural luncheon but will not attend, according to a third source familiar with the matter.

I kinda feel like she missed an opportunity there.

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[-] Gradually_Adjusting@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

I guess this is their idea of fighting fascism? Thanks dickheads.

[-] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 15 points 1 day ago

They were never in the business of fighting fascism. Just look at the dictatorships they supported.

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this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
440 points (100.0% liked)

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