EXPLAINER
Breaking with tradition, US President-elect Donald Trump has invited world leaders and heads of far-right parties, coronation style.
US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term on Monday, January 20, this time as the 47th president of the United States.
Both Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in and begin a new administration amid a long day of celebrations that will include musical performances and a parade.
However, unlike traditional inaugurations of American presidents, this one will include a host of foreign leaders, including Trump’s close allies and even some of his rivals. At least seven current heads of state and two former leaders have been invited. According to Reuters, about 500,000 guests in total are expected.
Here’s a breakdown of who is, who isn’t invited, and why this guest list is so different from the norm:
What is different about this inauguration?
President-elect Trump is breaking with American tradition with this event. Presidential inaugurations are typically an internal affair, with the president and vice president taking the oath of office with U.S. officials, former heads of state, and other American figures present on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building. The public can watch from the surrounding grounds.
However, this event, which will be accompanied by an opening speech, a parade, musical performances and dances, will also be an international affair. About a dozen world leaders have been invited, most of them conservative and right-wing. Foreign leaders do not typically attend the US presidential inauguration; rather, diplomats, such as countries’ ambassadors to the United States or foreign ministers, act as representatives.
Who is invited?
Several heads of state, particularly right-wing leaders or populists allied with Trump, have been invited, but so have some of his rivals. It should be noted that they are:
- Argentine President Javier Milei: Milei has confirmed her attendance. Trump once praised the far-right leader as a man who can “make Argentina great again” and, in December, hosted Milei at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping: Trump invited Xi to the ceremony in December, a move his spokesmen say signals his willingness to engage with his Chinese counterpart, even amid a looming trade war. Xi won’t do it However, Vice President Han Zheng will attend.
- The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.: Meloni, of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, visited Mar-a-Lago in January. His office says he is likely to attend if his schedule allows.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: Populist leader Orban is a close ally of Trump and has said he believes the president-elect will end Russia’s war against Ukraine. He won’t do it do so due to a state direction, according to local media.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Modi and Trump have shared a “bromance” since Trump’s first presidency. After his election victory in December, Modi was one of the first to call and congratulate Trump. While the prime minister won’t do it will attend, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will represent him.
- Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa: Noboa praised Trump’s victory in December as a victory for Latin America as well. His office confirmed that he will pause his re-election campaign to travel to Washington for the inauguration.
- El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele: Bukele’s office has not yet confirmed his attendance. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, is a friend of Bukele and, in July 2024, attended his inauguration in San Salvador.
- Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro: The far-right politician dubbed the “Trump of the tropics” has been invited, but won’t do it assist because he is prohibited from traveling. His passport was confiscated by the country’s Supreme Court amid several investigations, including alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2022 general election, which he lost.
- Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz MorawieckAlso attending will be , who recently became leader of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists party in the EU parliament.
Who is not invited?
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not been invited, his office confirmed Thursday. However, far-right politician Nigel Farage of the Reform UK party is invited and will be present.
- The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenand much of the European Union and NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members, which have largely centrist governments, have been ignored.
- The President of Germany, Olaf Scholzwhich leads the EU’s largest economy, has also been snubbed. However, an invitation has been extended to Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, who will be represented by her co-leader Tino Chrupalla.
- Santiago Abascalwho leads the Spanish right-wing party Vox, and Andre Ventura from the Portuguese populist party Chega, will also be there.
- French President Emmanuel Macron. He was not invited, although Macron and Trump have friendly relations. In his place, the far-right French politician Eric Zemmour, from the Reconquista party, will be present.
What other countries have organized similar swearing-in ceremonies?
Different countries have different traditions, but inaugurations are generally an internal affair, although they may include leaders from neighboring countries.
However, in India oath ceremonies are also becoming more extravagant. Last July, Indian President Narendra Modi had a long guest list for his third inauguration ceremony, which hosted 9,000 guests. Among them were several heads of state from neighboring Indian Ocean countries, including Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka and the now-ousted president of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was also sworn in for a third consecutive term in June 2023, hosted 34 world leaders for his lavish celebrations. Among them were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary.
