Trump makes first public appearance in days with Veterans Day visit to Arlington

President Trump marked Veterans Day with a trip to Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday morning, his first official appearance since losing the presidential race to Joe Biden.

Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along with first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Pence and second lady Karen Pence.

The band played the National Anthem as the president and first lady arrived at Arlington, where it was raining. Trump, wearing a blue tie, saluted and stood in silence in front of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before approaching the wreath and briefly touching it.

His appearance at the military cemetery lasted less than 10 minutes. It was the only public engagement on his schedule for Wednesday.

Trump also issued a proclamation recognizing Veterans Day, honoring service members for displaying “courage and fortitude in the face of adversity” and touting his administration’s efforts to improve veterans’ lives.

Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, similarly took part in a Veterans Day observance ceremony in Philadelphia, laying a wreath at the Korean War Memorial there Wednesday morning.

Trump has not made a public appearance since Biden was declared the winner of the presidential race on Saturday, apart from trips to his golf course in Northern Virginia over the weekend.

Trump last delivered public remarks in the White House briefing room on Thursday evening, when he claimed without evidence that the election was being stolen from him by Democrats.

In the days since, Trump has refused to concede the race to Biden and has sought to challenge the election results in court, leveling unsubstantiated allegations of widespread voter fraud. His campaign filed lawsuits in Pennsylvania and Michigan this week and has pushed for recounts in some states, including in Georgia, where a hand recount was announced Wednesday.

Biden was projected president-elect on Saturday after defeating Trump in the key swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This week he announced a group of health experts to advise him on the coronavirus pandemic and unveiled experts who will lead his transition at federal agencies.

Biden’s team has been in a standoff with the Trump administration over transition plans, however. The General Services Administration has refused to certify that Biden is the winner, freeing up federal resources for the former vice president to use amid the transition. Biden is also not yet receiving intelligence reports because of this decision.