Jimmy Carterand his wife of nearly 75 years, Rosalynn, are sending their well-wishes from afar asJoe Bidenis sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a spokesperson for theCarter Centersaid the former president, 96, and his wife, 93, “will not travel to Washington for the inauguration but have sent their best wishes to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect[Kamala] Harrisand look forward to a successful administration.”
Biden, 78, and Harris, 56, will make history on Wednesday upon their swearing-in ceremony, which will see Harris become thefirst woman in U.S. history to take the vice presidency, as well as the first Black person and first person of Asian descent to hold the office.
Despite some officials expressing security concerns surrounding their inauguration in light of theviolent riots in the U.S. Capitol buildingon Jan. 6, Biden has said he’s not concerned about taking the oath of office outside.
“I’mnot afraid of taking the oath outside,” he told reporters on Jan. 11, adding, “I think it’s critically important that there be a real serious focus on holding those folks who engaged in sedition and threatened people’s lives, defaced public property, caused great damage, that they be held accountable.”
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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.Matt Baron/Shutterstock
On Jan. 5, a representative forGeorge W. Bushsaid the former president and his wife, former First LadyLaura Bush, would attend the inauguration.
“President and Mrs. Bushlook forward to returning to the Capitolfor the swearing in of President Biden and Vice President Harris,” his chief of staff, Freddy Ford,wrote on Twitter. “I believe this will be the eighth Inaugurationthey’ve had the privilege of attending— President Trump’s being the most recent — and witnessing the peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy that never gets old.”
The Clintons and Obamas, whoattended Trump’s inauguration in 2017alongside Bush, 74, and Carter, are expected to be in attendance.
RELATED VIDEO: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s Decades-Long Love Story
Meanwhile, America’s oldest living former president recently said he was eager and awaiting the opportunity to receive thecoronavirus (COVID-19)vaccine.
“After consulting with his doctors, President Carter islooking forward to receiving the COVID-19 vaccinewhen it is available to him,” a spokesperson said in a statement last month via the Carter Center.
Carter is in a high-risk category for complications from COVID-19 due to his age and hashad a number of health issuesin recent years, including several falls andsurgery for bleeding on his brain.
The Carter Centersaid earlier in Decemberthat the former president and Mrs. Carter are “in full support of COVID-19 vaccine efforts and encourage everyone who is eligible to get immunized as soon as it becomes available in their communities.”
Former Presidents Bush,ClintonandObamahave all committed to taking the vaccine in public in order to boost confidence in its safety.
source: people.com
