Inauguration boycott: Who is boycotting? Why Democrats are boycotting Trump’s inauguration

Earlier this week 59 House Democrats confirmed they would not attend the inauguration in Capitol Hill, Washington, today (Friday 20).

More Democrats could join the boycott as part of a backlash against Mr Trump’s attack on civil right activist and Democratic congressman John Lewis.

Mr Trump slammed Mr Lewis for being ‘all talk’ after the congressman argued that he was not a legitimate president due to the Russian hacking scandal.

Maryland Representative Anthony Brown said announced that that he was skipping the inauguration, noting that Mr Lewis as a “civil rights hero”.

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Who will boycott Donald Trump's inauguration?

Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison added: "I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate."

But Mr Trump remains characteristically defiant, saying Mr Lewis had skipped George W Bush's inauguration in 2001.

“John Lewis said about my inauguration, ‘It will be the first one that I've missed.’ WRONG (or lie)! He boycotted Bush 43 also,” he tweeted.

He added: “People are pouring into Washington in record numbers. Bikers for Trump are on their way. It will be a great Thursday, Friday and Saturday!”

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John Lewis’ office confirmed that he missed Bush’s inauguration because of the controversy over the result in Florida.

His spokesman said: "He did not believe the outcome of that election, including the controversies around the results in Florida and the unprecedented intervention of the US Supreme Court, reflected a free, fair and open democratic process."

This is not the first time that opposition lawmakers have boycotted an inauguration on mass.

According to Arizona State University historian Brooks Simpson, 80 lawmakers missed Richard Nixon's 1973 swearing-in ceremony.

Mr Trump's team has denied claims that it has struggled to find performers for the inauguration. The new President says he wants 'people' not celebrities at the inauguration.

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