Trump to Skip New Year's Party and Return to White House... 'Only Speculation Surrounds the Background'

Trump Invites Guests to New Year's Party but Decides to Return to Washington
Speculations Abound from Last Election Overturn Attempt to Iran Retaliation Preparations

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Interest is focused on the background as U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly ended his vacation schedule and changed his plans to return to the White House earlier than expected. President Trump decided to return to Washington without attending the New Year's party held in Palm Beach, Florida.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to U.S. media including CNN on the 30th (local time), President Trump reportedly decided to hastily return to the White House. Previously, President Trump had planned to hold the event in Florida as in previous years and had invited guests. Since it was known that President Trump was supposed to attend this party, the decision is being regarded as unusual.

According to the schedule announced by the White House, President Trump is set to return to the White House at 11 a.m. Eastern Time on the 31st.

U.S. media have put forward various speculations regarding Trump shortening his vacation schedule earlier than initially expected.

One speculation is that it is to prepare for the joint session of the U.S. Congress on the 6th of next month, where the presidential election results will be certified. Trump raised allegations of election fraud and engaged in lawsuits. Despite the lawsuits, Trump's defeat was confirmed through the composition of the Electoral College by individual states. However, President Trump has not given up hope that the election results could be overturned during the joint session of Congress.

Another possibility is that it is a measure to prepare for attacks from Iran and others. Earlier, on January 3rd of this year, Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in an assassination attack by the U.S. at Baghdad Airport. As the anniversary of Soleimani's death approaches, it is speculated that this is a precautionary measure against retaliatory attacks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.