Should President Biden attend the coronation of King Charles?

[True Dough]

The invitation has been extended. Are you in favor or opposed?

Link to tweet

[RockRaven]

1. The coronation? Absolutely not.

A state visit? Yeah, sure.

[Tetrachloride]

7. +1. First Lady Biden is attending. The President must not.

Don’t give ammo to TIFG.

Stick with protocol and it’s proper.

[Bettie]

2. We are not British subjects

so, no, it is not necessary.

[montanacowboy]

3. No

n/t

[patricia92243]

4. Yes, he should. He will do us proud.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Send a card. Maybe re-gift something from the inauguration.

[True Dough]

6. David Frum with a simple explanation

for the lack of U.S. presidents presence at past coronations...

Link to tweet

[Tomconroy]

20. The one before that would have been George VI and FDR

Would have had too difficult a time managing it.
His brother Edward never had one so then you go back to before WW I.

[sl8]

25. Maybe. Lack of jets didn't stop Truman from travelling overseas in the 1940s.

Or Roosevelt, for that matter.

Elizabeth II was coronated in 1953.


On edit:
Eisenhower also travelled overseas as President, but not to QE II's coronation. His trip to the U.K./Europe in 1957 was on a prop-driven Air Force One.

[kskiska]

48. FDR hosted George VI and his wife

where they even spent time at his home at Hyde Park, where he treated them to a American picnic with hot dogs.

[sl8]

51. Thanks. Both Truman and Eisenhower visited with the monarch, too.

I was just taking issue with Frum suggesting that the reason that presidents didn't attend coronations had something to do with the advent of jet aircraft. Both Truman and Eisenhower travelled to the U.K. on propeller aircraft, so I don't think his argument holds water.

[kskiska]

53. Very true.

There's not enough there to form any sort of "precedence" regarding coronations.

[Deuxcents]

8. No. Biden will observe custom and not attend. Dr Jill will represent US

[moonscape]

9. Neither. I don't care.

[lapfog_1]

10. The President does not attend a coronation event

We do not believe in royalty.

[ellie]

11. No

[bamagal62]

12. I would say no.

But, I can’t stand Camilla. So there’s that.

[samplegirl]

13. No

To many important things to do here.
Work on Ohio Derailment as Dewine and Vance sit back doing g nothing!

[Bev54]

14. I think Biden should make his own decision, don't really care one way or the other

[LetMyPeopleVote]

15. No

[milestogo]

16. I think coronations should be relegated to the past.

in the 21st century we don't need a stinkin' king.

[GuppyGal]

17. Absolutely. Shouldn't even be a question. n/t

[Runningdawg]

18. No way.

[canetoad]

19. He is not attending the coronation

That's already settled. He has accepted an invitation for a State visit.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65196188

US President Joe Biden to visit UK after invite from King Charles

US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation from King Charles to go to the UK on a state visit.

The King invited the US president during a recent telephone call.

The White House said Mr Biden had a "friendly conversation" with the monarch where they also discussed his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

During the call, President Biden confirmed he would not be attending the coronation, but First Lady Jill Biden would represent the US at the event.

King Charles' coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on 6 May.

In addition to the Royal Family, those attending the coronation will include the prime minister, representatives from the Houses of Parliament, heads of state, and other royals from around the world.

[irisblue]

21. It would seem to be job of the American Ambassador to Court of St James's

Not the American President

[Celerity]

22. No, and I wish both of my nations that currently have monarchs (UK, Sweden) would do away with them.

The concept of rule via birthright is abhorrent to the very core of my values as a human.

It has always amazed and so disappointed me how much support for it there is on this board, a board for the leftish political party in a nation that fought a war to end a monarch's rule over it.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. I think President Joe should attend supper at my house.

I voted for him; that means he has to do what I say. Right?

[True Dough]

27. Will there be tea and crumpets?

I hope the menu measures up at your place!

[JHB]

24. I say stick with precedent and let whoever is president when Charles' heir is coronated...

...decide if they'll change it then.

I mean, it's not as if his run is going to be nearly as long as Liz's reign.

The only people complaining about it are the ones who will complain whatever Biden does.

[treestar]

45. Yep.

Though on this matter, I'll admit I'm fine with whatever Biden does.

Things are different from 1953. Yet this is not the equivalent of an inauguration (I guess that would be the equivalent of being placed at 10 Downing Street). So it's historical, but maybe not important enough to the US and our special alliance with the UK should be able to take the strain of Joe not going. Dr. Jill is more than they got before for this shindig.

[Dorian Gray]

26. I don't care if he attends or not

If he wants to?

[Goodheart]

28. Aside from Canada our closest ally. That's their form of government. We should accept.

It's just silly to think that attending a coronation means that we agree with monarchy.

[pfitz59]

29. No

Monarchy is antithetical to American democracy.

[Liberal In Texas]

30. Nope.

We had a revolution a while back so we didn't have to pay homage to British royalty. Attending the coronation would be exactly that.

[Victor_c3]

32. You took the words right out of my mouth n/t

[GoCubsGo]

34. Exactly right. Thank you. nt

[Kaleva]

31. I'm scheduled to have a phone conference with Biden about this matter

I'll let everyone know what I told Biden to do after the meeting is over

[True Dough]

35. Phone conference?

That's so '80s. Should be on Zoom or Teams.

[GoCubsGo]

33. No.

I don't care for the fact that his wife and her contingent are going, either. I see no reason for them to attend that dog-and-pony show.

[Peacetrain]

36. NO!! Just another tempest in a cracked tea pot

No President has ever gone to a coronation of an English King.. Likewise I know of no English King coming to the Swearing in of an American President.. What is this all about??

[Kaleva]

37. Looks like the 1st Lady is going

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143056280

[Evergreen Emerald]

38. Yes

Respect our allies.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

39. FUCK NO!

[True Dough]

41. But

what if they served these after the ceremony???

[Floyd R. Turbo]

42. No fair!

[True Dough]

43. Buckingham Palace

knows your weak spots, Floyd!

[blogslug]

40. No. We don't bow to kings.

Remember this guy?

[True Dough]

44. Who is that?

Trey Gowdy's dad?

[kentuck]

46. No.

...

[sarisataka]

47. Has a king or queen of England

Ever attended the inauguration of a US president?

[Mysterian]

50. They would be dignifying democracy if they did

as opposed to dignifying the horrible institution of monarchy.

[Mysterian]

49. The concept of monarchy is abhorrent

The USA was founded on ideals anathema to monarchy and President Biden should not dignify the horrible institution of monarchy by attending.

[Autumn]

52. No.

[ornotna]

54. No

End of story.

[mcar]

55. No

[roamer65]

56. After the coronation, in a separate state visit yes.

[In It to Win It]

57. He doesn't have to. I don't know why this is a big deal