Top Republican and Democrat luminaries will be skipping some or all of President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural events following a bruising election that was marked by political attacks, insults and low blows.

Mr. Trump spared no punches during his successful bid for a second term, taking aim at former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, and many others who did not support his candidacy. Many of them swung right back, or initiated attacks themselves.

Now several of them will put in minimal appearances or skip Mr. Trump’s inauguration entirely as he becomes the first person in more than a century to be sworn in as president in non-consecutive terms.

Ms. Pelosi, California Democrat, said she won’t attend any of the inaugural events on Monday. The 84-year-old party leader, who broke her hip in December and underwent hip replacement surgery, did not offer a reason for her decision to skip a presidential inauguration after attending them dating back to President John F. Kennedy.

But it’s no secret that Ms. Pelosi is one of Mr. Trump’s most vocal opponents and spent much of his first term accusing him, without evidence, of working for the Russians. “With Trump, all roads lead to Putin,” she frequently claimed.

Mr. Trump, just before the November election, called Ms. Pelosi “a crazy horrible human being,” and another name that “starts with a ‘B,’ but I won’t say it.”

Mrs. Obama also will be an inauguration no-show. Her office announced the decision without an explanation. Mrs. Obama skipped the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter earlier this month, citing a scheduling conflict.

Her public relationship with Mr. Trump has been downright ugly.

On the campaign trail in October, Mrs. Obama accused Mr. Trump of “gross incompetence” and said he would be “stewing over his enemies’ list” in the Oval Office.

Mr. Trump responded to Mrs. Obama’s attacks by calling her “nasty” and other names.

All of Mr. Trump’s predecessors plan a partial snub.

Former President Obama will attend the swearing-in, moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to the frigid temperatures.

Mr. Bush and former President Bill Clinton will attend the swearing-in ceremony, along with former first lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State and 2016 Trump opponent Hillary Clinton.

But they’ll all skip Mr. Trump’s inaugural luncheon, a traditional gathering that dates back to 1897.

Their absence underscores the acrimonious relationship between Mr. Trump and those who held the office before him.

And it follows Mr. Trump’s refusal in 2021 to attend President Biden’s swearing-in.

All of Mr. Trump’s living predecessors have traded barbs with Mr. Trump, some subtle, others direct attacks.

Even Mr. Bush, who has steadfastly refused to criticize Mr. Trump by name but refused to endorse him, took an underhanded swing at him in a September 11, 2021 speech commemorating two decades since the terrorist attacks. Mr. Bush lamented, “so much of our politics has become a naked appeal to anger, fear and resentment.”

Mr. Trump famously undercut the once-promising, 2016 presidential campaign of his brother, former Florida Gov, Jeb Bush, labeling him “Low Energy Jeb,” and in 2021 and called Mr. Bush’s presidency “failed and uninspiring.”

The back-and-forth attacks between the Clintons and the Trumps are too numerous to count. Mr. Trump famously presided over “lock her up” chants at his rallies during the 2016 campaign.

Mrs. Clinton said Mr. Trump was an illegitimate president, a “creep,” and “a danger to the country and the world.”

Several congressional Democrats also plan to skip the swearing-in, including Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Judy Chu of California and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.