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 J.D. Vance will be sworn in and begin the new administration in a full day of festivities that include musical performances and a parade.
However, unlike a traditional U.S. presidential inauguration, this one will include many 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. A total of 500,000 guests are expected, according to Reuters.
Here are the details on who's attending, who's not invited, and why this guest list is so different from the regular list:
How is this inauguration different?
President-elect Trump has broken the American tradition of this event. Typically, presidential inaugurations are domestic affairs: the president and vice president take the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol alongside U.S. officials, former heads of state and other U.S. dignitaries. The public can watch from surrounding grounds.
However, the event, which will be accompanied by inaugural speeches, parades, musical performances and balls, will also be an international event. Nearly a dozen world leaders were invited, most of them conservatives and right-wing figures. Foreign leaders typically do not attend U.S. presidential inaugurations; instead, diplomats such as ambassadors to the United States or foreign ministers serve as representatives.
Who is invited?
Several heads of state, particularly right-wing or populist leaders aligned with Trump, were also invited, as well as some of his rivals. Notably, they are:
- Argentine President Javier Milley: Milei is confirmed to be attending. Trump has praised the far-right leader as someone who could "make Argentina great again" and welcomed Milley to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida in December.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping: Trump invited Xi Jinping to a ceremony in December, a move his spokesman said showed he was prepared to interact with the Chinese leader even as a trade war loomed. seat Won't However, Vice President Han Zheng will attend.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni: Meloni, a member of the far-right Brotherhood of Italy party, visited Mar-a-Lago in January. Her office said she may attend if her schedule permits.
- 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 in Ukraine. he Won't This was due to the country's address, local media reported.
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Modi and Trump have always had a "brotherly bromance" since Trump became president. After Modi won the election in December last year, he was one of the first people to call Trump and express his congratulations. Although the prime minister Won't External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will attend on his behalf.
- Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa: Noboa hailed Trump's victory in December as a victory for Latin America. His office confirmed that he will suspend his re-election campaign to travel to Washington for the inauguration.
- El Salvador President Nayib Bukele: Bukele's office has not yet confirmed whether he will attend. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., is a friend of Bukele's and attended his inauguration in San Salvador in July 2024.
- Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro: The far-right politician dubbed "Tropical Trump" has been invited, but Won't Attend Because he was banned from traveling. His passport was confiscated by the country's highest court amid multiple investigations, including an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election, which he lost.
- Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz MoravecTrump, who recently became leader of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reform parties in the EU parliament, will also attend.
Who is not invited?
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer His office confirmed Thursday that an invitation had not yet been received. However, Nigel Farage, a far-right politician from the UK's Reform Party, was invited to attend.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyenwhile most countries that are members of the European Union and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), whose governments are mostly centrist, are ignored.
- German President Olaf ScholzThe European Union, which leads the bloc's largest economy, was also snubbed. However, Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has received an invitation and will be represented by co-leader Tino Chrupalla.
- Santiago Abascalleads Spain's right-wing Vox party, and Andrea Ventura Members of Portugal's populist Chega party will also attend.
- French President Emmanuel Macron Macron was not invited despite his friendly relationship with Trump. Instead, French far-right politician Eric Zemour of the Restoration Party will attend.
Which other countries have held similar oath-taking ceremonies?
Different countries have different traditions, but typically inaugurations are domestic affairs, although they may include leaders from neighboring countries.
However, in India, oath-taking ceremonies are also becoming increasingly extravagant. The guest list for Indian President Narendra Modi's third inauguration in July last year was long, with a total of 9,000 guests. These include several heads of state from neighboring Indian Ocean countries, including Sri Lanka's Ranil Wickremesinghe and now-ousted Bangladeshi President Sheikh Hasina.
Similarly, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also sworn in in June 2023, hosted 34 world leaders in lavish celebrations. They include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.