Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shared his impressions of Donald Trump's inauguration, which took place recently in Washington. According to the Belarusian leader, he watched the ceremony live, but was disappointed by the new US president's statements about his predecessor Joe Biden. Lukashenko noted that some of Trump's statements left him perplexed and emotionally charged.
"Biden sat there, slumped over. As it was, it was all there, you said it all. Why did you discredit this poor old man in half your speech?" — Lukashenko said, expressing regret about the tone of Trump’s speech.
He noted that, despite his own disapproval of Biden's policies, the former US president looked "more decent" at the inauguration than Trump himself.
The Belarusian leader stressed that he does not consider it acceptable to insult or humiliate his predecessors.
"You can't do that. You can't offend or insult those who came before you," " he added, pointing out the importance of respecting political continuity and dignity in public speaking.
Lukashenko also admitted that after he was overwhelmed by emotions, he stopped listening to Trump's further speech. He noted that such statements can not only undermine the authority of new leaders, but also create a negative impression of the political culture in the country.