Biden to revive longtime presidential tradition Trump skipped [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Carol E. Lee 17 hrs ago

WASHINGTON — A modern presidential tradition is poised to return to the White House — at least in part.



© Provided by NBC News
President Joe Biden plans to host a White House ceremony this year for the unveiling of former President Barack Obama’s official portrait, according to people familiar with the discussions. And former President Donald Trump has already begun participating in the customary process so his official portrait can eventually hang alongside his predecessors, according to an aide and others familiar with the discussions.

It’s unlikely Trump would follow the tradition of having his portrait unveiled at an East Room event hosted by his successor, given his false claims that Biden didn’t legitimately win the 2020 election, people familiar with the matter said. But a formal event with Obama and his wife, Michelle, is expected to take place at the White House — likely this fall — after coronavirus restrictions have been lifted to allow for such a large gathering, these people said.

“They’re virtually done,” a person familiar with the process said of the Obamas’ portraits.

The unveiling of presidential portraits in the East Room typically include a couple hundred guests. Currently the White House is not holding events of that size, and the person familiar with the process said that, at this point, it’s better to wait because “it would be a shame to do it and have only six or seven people there.”

A White House official said, “As Covid restrictions continue to be lifted and we slowly reopen the White House for social activities, we will continue to work through these types of issues.”

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