The White House today tended to side with the Democratic lawmakers who have decided to boycott Donald Trump's inauguration over alleged Russian meddling in US presidential election and his rebuke of John Lewis, asking the president-elect to reach out to the civil rights legend.
Lewis, leading a pack of 18 lawmakers, has blasted Trump in an interview on CNN, saying he would boycott the ceremony for the first time since 1987 because he doesn't see Trump as a "legitimate" president in light of the Russian interference.
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough later told the network that "these Democrats and others have pointed out that they have got significant concerns (over Russian meddling with the purpose of helping one candidate and hurting the other)."
"My hope would be that the president-elect will reach out to somebody as consequential - and as somebody who is such a leader - as John Lewis ... And hopefully not just reach out to him, but pursue some of the policies that Lewis has literally fought, bled and gone to jail for over the course of his remarkable life," McDonough said.
He said Trump reaching out to Lewis would send a message to Americans that "we're prepared to work together, but would also send a message to the Russians, that we are united."
"Their efforts to divide Americans, to weaken the country, to advance their own interests, at the expense of America, is going to fail."
Trump - who will become the 45th President of the US after he takes over from Obama - has lashed out at Lewis on Twitter for the boycott of the January 20 inauguration ceremony.
"Congressman John Lewis should finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the US. I can use all the help I can get!" Trump said sarcastically in a tweet.
"Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to...Mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!" he said in a series of tweets.
Lewis today was on a talk show. Appearing determined to stick to his decision, he went a step further and said he will not invite Trump to Selma, Alabama, the site of the historic civil rights marches.
"By going to Selma - like President (George W) Bush, President (Bill) Clinton, President Obama - maybe he would learn something," Lewis told NBC's 'Meet the Press'.
"Iwould not invite him to come," he said, but quickly added he would not do anything to stop Trump from coming.
McDonough also insisted the outgoing Obama administration believes Trump is the elected president of the country; and this has been articulated by Obama several times in the past.
"He will be inaugurated on Friday. And he will come into office hopefully strengthened by the kind of transition that we have tried to run in this White House," he said.
But Obama does not plan to jump into the debate of legitimate and illegitimate of the election of Trump.
"The president is not going to get in the middle of this right now," he said.
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