Trump’s DC hotel seemingly admits election defeat by unblocking hotel rooms for week of Biden’s inauguration

US president has not confirmed whether he will attend event on 20 January

The Trump International Hotel has unblocked its rooms for the week of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, seemingly admitting Donald Trump’s defeat in 3 November’s election.

Mr Trump’s hotel in Washington, DC, had previously blocked rooms from being booked between 16-20 January 2021 in preparation for his inauguration, according to the newsletter 1100Pennsylvania.com.

However, investigative journalist Zach Everson, who runs the newsletter, reported that the hotel unblocked the rooms this weekend, with suites available for between $886 (£657) and $2,225 (£1,650) a night.

Although Mr Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election last month, with his inauguration scheduled for 20 January, Mr Trump has repeatedly falsely claimed that there was widespread voter fraud and has still not conceded.

President Trump and his team have had more than 50 legal challenges dismissed over the last month, as he and his allies are still attempting to overturn 3 November’s election results. There is no evidence for the claims.

The hotel’s rooms are much cheaper on the week of Mr Biden’s inauguration than on 5 and 6 January, with one bedroom suites starting from $3,605 (£2,672) a night on those dates, according to HuffPost.

Mr Trump has teased an event in Washington, DC, on 6 January, on the day that the Electoral College votes will be counted in Congress to confirm Mr Biden as the next US president.

Several Republican House representatives and one senator are expected to challenge the Electoral College’s results during that session, after meeting with Mr Trump in the White House last week.

In order to force a debate and vote on an objection, both a representative from the House and the Senate need to object in writing.

However, the challenge is unlikely to make it past the Democratic-controlled House, while several high-profile Republicans have signalled that they will not support the effort.

Mr Trump has not yet said if he will attend Mr Biden’s inauguration on 20 January, but in an interview with Fox Business last month, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany still insisted that he will attend his own.

“I think the president will attend his own inauguration - he would have to be there in fact,” Ms McEnany said in November while appearing in the role of a Trump 2020 campaign adviser.

60,000 people have also indicated on Facebook that they will attend a virtual “second inauguration” for Mr Trump, on the day that Mr Biden is sworn in.

In response, Facebook added a disclaimer to the page, stating: “Joe Biden is the President-elect. He will be inaugurated as the 46th US President on January 20, 2021.”

Earlier this month, the US Electoral College voted for Mr Biden as the winner of the presidential election, with 306 electoral votes to Mr Trump’s 232. The result is expected to be confirmed by Congress on 6 January.

The Independent has contacted the Trump International Hotel for comment.