That President Trump and President-Elect Biden have noticeably differing styles of governing and communicating with the American people couldn’t be much more obvious. It’s been on display for much of 2020, particularly in the presidential debates.
It’s all had an added air of awkwardness since the election, too. Although Biden won the election with six million more votes than Trump, the incumbent has refused to concede, continually accusing Democrats of having rigged the election in Biden’s favor without being able to produce any evidence.
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And if anyone thought that tune would change for Thanksgiving, those thoughts can be put to rest.
On Thanksgiving Day, President-Elect Biden’s official transition account tweeted out a recorded message.
Marking a Thanksgiving like none of us have seen in our lifetimes, Biden’s message appealed to Americans’ optimism.
“Americans dream big,” he said. “As hard as it may seem this Thanksgiving, we’re gonna dream big again. The future is bright. In fact, I have never been more optimistic about the future of America than I am right now.”
Biden also tweeted out a less formal message that drew a contrast with how he and his family typically spend their Thanksgivings.
“So many people are celebrating this year knowing that someone they love will never again take a seat at the table,” Dr. Jill Biden said in the message. “Joe and I know the pain of that empty chair. If you are one of those families, please know that our hearts are with you, and that you know that you aren’t alone.”
“We might not be able to join our hands around a table,” Biden added, “with our loved ones, but we can come together as a nation. I know better days are coming.”
Trump, however, stayed on his message.
Rather than tweeting out any acknowledgement of the occasion, President Trump suggested that “There is NO WAY Biden got 80,000,000 votes,” and again called the election “rigged,” again without evidence.
To be fair, President Trump did issue a proclamation on Thanksgiving from the White House. In that message , he did address the COVID-19 pandemic and applauded the “First responders, medical professionals, essential workers, neighbors, and countless other patriots” who “have served and sacrificed for their fellow Americans.”
But, on Thanksgiving Day, using his most direct method of communicating with the public, President Trump barely even marked the day.
In a later tweet , Trump did say “Happy Thanksgiving,” but only while quote-tweeting the results of a Supreme Court decision, which allowed religious gatherings to ignore pandemic restrictions on attendance limits.
Also, while the Bidens said they’d be partaking in a small gathering in Delaware rather than a larger one in Nantucket, President Trump went golfing.
“President Trump is spending Thanksgiving morning at his golf club,” CNN’s Jim Sciutto reported on Twitter . “This is his 416th day in office spent at a Trump property and his 305th day spent at a golf course.”
