“The fact that President Biden and his wife, Hillary Clinton and former President Clinton, former President Bush and his wife Laura, and former President Barack Obama all sat in the same row alongside each other and witnessed what everyone witnessed yesterday was perhaps the one true ring of democracy that we saw yesterday—the one true ring of civility,” said Morning Joe contributor and veteran journalist Mike Barnicle during this panel discussion about President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. “The other thing that was shocking to me – maybe I’m the only one – was the absolute lack of grace and graciousness in President Trump’s speech, especially when he announced to the crowd about the hostages, three hostages being released. The crowd erupts in applause; he never even looks at President Biden, who invited Trump’s representatives to join in the talks to free the hostages. Never, never once looked at him when he uttered that, never once thanked him for his cooperation, or thanked him for allowing the two sides, the Trump people and the Biden people, to pursue the release of the hostages. Not once. That was the most shocking part.”
Jan 21, 2025
