See a shortlist of four past US presidents who skipped their successor's inauguration

Donald Trump 

Following US President Donald Trump's decision not to attend President-Elect Joe Biden's inauguration come January 20th, he will join a shortlist of only four (4) former American presidents who also skipped their successor's inauguration. Trump will become the fifth in the country's 243-year history. 

President Richard Nixon (1974)

Following his indictment in the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the only US president in history to resign from office in August 1974.

As such, he was not around when his Vice and successor, Gerald Ford, was sworn in a day after he left the White House.

He was the 37th president of the United States. 

President Andrew Johnson (1869)

Andrew Johnson was sworn into office following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. He had been the vice president at the time of the assassination.

Johnson was a Democrat president who favored a quick restoration of the seceded states back into the Union after the end of the Civil War without protection for the former slaves. This resulted in conflict between him and the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, culminating in his impeachment in 1868. But he was acquitted in the Senate by one vote.

He refused to attend the inauguration of his successor, Ulysses S. Grant, in March 1869 to sign “last minute legislation,” according to the Library of Congress.

He reportedly wasn't in good terms with President-Elect Grant, and was also very angry about his impeachment too. He was the 17th US president, and the first to be impeached.

He was the US president that purchased Alaska—his most significant achievement in office.

President John Quincy Adams (1829)

It's unclear why John Quincy Adams didn't attend his successor Andrew Jackson's inauguration. He also didn't invite Jackson to the White House, neither did Jackson "call on" him after he arrived in Washington DC.

He left the White House a day before Jackson was to be sworn in as President. He was the country's 6th president. 

According to White House archives, Jackson and Adams first ran against each other in 1824. Jackson won more popular and electoral votes, but since no candidates received a majority as required, the U.S. House of Representatives selected the president (Adam's).

When it selected Adams, Jackson and his allies claimed it was a “corrupt bargain,” and he vowed to run again four years later. He kept his promise and defeated Adams in 1868.

President John Adams (1801)

John Adams was the 2nd president of the United States, and father of its 6th president, John Quincy Adams.

He left the White House at 4am on the day of the inauguration of his successor, Thomas Jefferson, and never recorded his reason for skipping the ceremony.

But, according to The News&Observer, "it marked the first time in history the presidency was handed over to the opposing party, and Adams may have wanted to avoid stirring the pot between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans". 

Some also speculate that Adams may have wanted to avoid imposing as Jefferson never formally invited him.