explainer
Breaking with tradition, US President-elect Donald Trump has invited world leaders and far-right party leaders to his coronation ceremony.
President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office for his second term on Monday, January 20th, this time as the 47th President of the United States.
Both Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are scheduled to take the oath of office and inaugurate the new administration during a long day of musical performances, parades and other celebratory events.
But unlike traditional U.S. presidential inaugurations, this one will be attended by a large number of foreign leaders, including some of Trump’s closest allies and some of his rivals. At least seven current heads of state and two former leaders have been invited. According to Reuters, the total number of visitors is expected to be 500,000.
Here’s a breakdown of who’s attending, who’s not invited, and why this guest list is so different than usual.
What will be different about this inauguration?
President-elect Trump is breaking with American tradition with this event. Presidential inaugurations are typically domestic events. The president and vice president will be sworn in on the steps of the Capitol along with U.S. officials, former heads of state, and other U.S. dignitaries. The general public can also tour from the surrounding grounds.
But the event, with its inaugural address, parade, musical performances and ball, is also an international event. More than a dozen world leaders have been invited, most of them conservative and right-wing. Foreign leaders typically do not attend U.S. presidential inaugurations. Rather, diplomats such as the ambassador to the United States and the foreign minister act as representatives.
Who is invited?
Several heads of state have been invited, particularly right-wing and populist leaders allied with President Trump, but also some of his rivals. In particular, they are:
Argentine President Javier Millay: Mr. Millay confirmed his attendance. President Trump once hailed the far-right leader as someone who could “make Argentina great again” and welcomed Milay to his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida in December.
Chinese President Xi Jinping: President Trump invited President Xi to a ceremony in December, indicating that President Xi Jinping is ready to interact with the Chinese side even in the midst of an impending trade war. The spokesperson said there is. Mr. Xi will not attend, but Vice President Han Zheng is expected to attend.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: Meloni of the far-right Brotherhood of Italy party visited Mar-a-Lago in January. Her office said she is likely to attend if her schedule allows.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán: The populist leader is a close ally of President Trump and has said he believes the president-elect will end Russia’s war with Ukraine. According to local media, he will be absent to deliver a national address.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump have shared a “bromance” since the time of the first President Trump. After winning the election in December, Prime Minister Modi was the first to call President Trump and congratulate him. The Prime Minister will not be present, but Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will represent him.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa: President Noboa hailed President Trump’s December victory as a victory for Latin America as well. His office confirmed he is suspending his re-election campaign as he heads to Washington for the inauguration.
President Nayib Boucle of El Salvador: President Boucle’s office has not yet confirmed his attendance. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is friends with Bukele and attended his inauguration in San Salvador in July 2024.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro: Far-right politician known as “Tropical Trump” was invited but not invited attend Because he is banned from traveling. His passport was confiscated by the Supreme Court amid multiple investigations, including allegations that he tried to overturn the results of the 2022 general election that he lost.
Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiec, who recently became leader of the right-wing European Conservative and Reform Party in the EU parliament, will also be in attendance.
Who is not invited?
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not been invited, he confirmed on Thursday. However, far-right politician Nigel Farage of the British Reform Party has been invited and is expected to attend.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and many other European Union and NATO member states, dominated by centrist governments, have been ignored.
German President Olaf Scholz, who heads the EU’s largest economy, has also been given a cold shoulder. However, Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has also received an invitation, and will be represented by co-leader Tino Churupala.
Santiago Abascal, head of Spain’s right-wing Vox party, and Andre Ventura of Portugal’s populist party Chega will also attend.
French President Emmanuel Macron was not invited, although Macron and Trump have a friendly relationship. He will be replaced by far-right French politician Eric Zemmour of the Reconquista party.
Are there any other countries with similarly packed swearing-in ceremonies?
Different countries have different traditions, and inauguration ceremonies are usually national events, although leaders from neighboring countries may participate.
However, oath-taking ceremonies in India are also becoming more lavish. Last July, Indian President Narendra Modi had a long guest list for his third inauguration ceremony with 9,000 guests. Among them were several heads of state from neighboring countries in the Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka’s Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bangladesh’s now-ousted President Sheikh Hasina.
Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was inaugurated for a third consecutive term in June 2023, invited 34 world leaders for a lavish celebration. Among them were South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.