Donald Trump lashes Joe Biden over coronation non-attendance

Trump labelled Biden’s decision not to attend the coronation as ‘very disrespectful’, putting the decision down to his declining physical capacity.

Donald Trump has put Joe Biden’s decision not to attend the coronation down to a decline in his capacity. Picture; Getty Images.

Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden’s decision not to attend the coronation of King Charles III as “very disrespectful”, putting the President’s preference to remain in the US down to his declining physical capacity.

Mr Trump, who may face off against Mr Biden for president in 2024 as the leading Republican candidate, said he was “very surprised” by Mr Biden’s decision to send First Lady Jill Biden instead, in an interview on GB News with UK Brexit leader Nigel Farage that aired on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

“I don‘t think he can do it physically, actually. I think it’s hard for him to do it physically,” Mr Trump said. ”Certainly, he should be here. He’s our representative of our country. I was surprised when I heard that he wasn’t coming.”

In a brief statement on 4th April the White House noted President Biden, 80, had spoken with Charles III, telling the king his wife Jill would be representing the US at the event, which is expected to attract 2,200 people, including foreign delegations from over 200 nations and 100 heads of state and government.

“The president had about a 25-minute, 30-minute call with the King Charles III, during which he congratulated the King … they had a very friendly conversation,” White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said a day later.

“He talked about how he enjoyed meeting the Queen back in 2021 — he and the first lady, at Windsor. And he hoped to visit again soon”.

The US presidential couple visited the UK in September to attend the funeral of Elizabeth II in September last year.

King Charles III and his wife Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey this coming Saturday (Sunday AEST) in lavish ceremony lasting hours, the first royal coronation since Charles’s mother’s Elizabeth’s in 1953.

First Lady Jill Biden tweeted a picture of herself boarding a flight to London on Thursday (Friday AEST), where she will represent the US along with the president’s granddaughter and daughter of Hunter Biden, Finnegan.

“It’s an honour to represent the United States for this historic moment and celebrate the special relationship between our countries,” she said.

“Not impressed that President Biden has reportedly turned down his invitation to King Charles’ coronation. Huge moment in British history, and whatever you think of him, I’m certain Donald Trump would have gone if he were still President,” said UK journalist Piers Morgan in April on social media, reflecting frustration at the decision among some in the UK.

The president’s decision not to attend, while in keeping with tradition – neither Franklin Roosevelt nor Dwight Eisenhower attended the coronations of George VI or Elizabeth II, respectively – has fed speculation about Mr Biden’s declining physical and mental capacity.

“The guy is 80,” a reported administration ‘insider’ told the UK’s Daily Telegraph in April. “They space out his big bursts of activity quite considerably”.