[jaycroft]

A symbolic gesture signaling approval of the peaceful transition of power for arguably the most powerful political apparatus on earth is quite significant to a lot of Americans. It is probably considerably less interesting to people watching from the outside.

[Aeolun]

The symbolism of him attending is much more important to me than the symbolism of him staying away.

Few people will start a riot if he is there transferring power to the new president.

A legion of people will show up to disrupt the proceedings if he isn’t.