Trump could skip Biden's inauguration as Trump's hotel increases prices 500% in Washington DC

Room rates are up by five-fold on inauguration day.

Kayla Wong | January 05, 2021, 10:38 AM

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As U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration day on Jan. 20 nears, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. has hiked up its prices in what appears to be an attempt to cash in on the occasion.

Room rates up by almost five-fold during inauguration

Rates for a room now cost US$2,225 (S$2,938) a night for Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, according to a check on the hotel's website, whereas the same room costs around US$476 (S$628.55) on other days in January.

The hotel also states that a minimum stay of two nights are required during the inauguration period.

Screenshot via Trump International Hotel

A receptionist at the hotel told Politico that the hotel will not be having any inauguration specials or private events related to the day.

Biden's team has urged supporters not to visit Washington, D.C. to celebrate the inauguration amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Tickets for the public to attend the event has also been drastically reduced, The Washington Post reported.

Trump continues to fight to overturn election result

Biden has been elected officially by the electoral college as the country's next president.

Every U.S. state had certified the election results after authenticating their accuracy, and the Supreme Court had rejected almost 60 attempts by Trump's camp to overturn the results.

But Trump and his allies are not giving up, sticking to unverified theories of electoral fraud.

A total of 11 Republican senators and senators-elect have recently said they would vote to reject Biden's victory on Jan. 6 when Congress meets.

Democrats have dismissed the attempt as a "publicity stunt", saying nothing they do can change Biden's incoming inauguration.

Attempt risks splintering Republican camp

Republicans are split over the decision, with Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham saying the proposal has "zero chance of becoming reality".

Senate Majority Leader and top Republican Mitch McConnell had recognised Biden's win three weeks ago, congratulating him and Kamala Harris as well on her victory as vice president-elect.

He had also asked other Republicans not to oppose the result, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Trump speculated to snub Biden's inauguration

There is speculation that Trump would snub Biden's inauguration by flying to Scotland.

Prestwick airport, which is located near Trump's Turnberry Resort in Scotland, was told to expect the arrival of a U.S. military Boeing 757 aircraft that Trump uses from time to time, the Sunday Post reported, citing sources from the airport.

It is also speculated that the outgoing U.S. president would be announcing his reelection campaign in 2024 on Jan. 20 itself, according to NBC News, which cited three people familiar with the discussions.

Trump would be breaking White House tradition if he boycotts his successor's inauguration.

But he would not be the first sitting president to do so.

Five had done so in American history, the most recent being Richard Nixon in 1974, who left the White House after his resignation.

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Top image adapted via Getty Images & Trump International Hotel