14/01/2025
Donald Trump’s inauguration: Who’s invited and who’s not? Will Xi Jinping attend?
firstpost.comJan 13, 2025 5:03 PM
US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is set to take place on January 20. This time, Trump is breaking tradition by inviting foreign presidents and prime ministers, which is not usually the case for US oath-taking ceremonies. Among those invited is Chinese President Xi Jinping, but will he attend?
Donald Trump’s inauguration: Who’s invited and who’s not? Will Xi Jinping attend?
The who’s who of global leaders and influential figures are hoping to attend US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Trump, known for his unconventional approach and doing what it takes to get things done, has broken another tradition by inviting foreign presidents and prime ministers to the event.
Reports indicate that Trump has raised over $170 million for the inauguration - a record amount, with tech executives and major donors contributing large sums to support the ceremony.
According to Federal Election Commission records, the huge funds raised by Trump’s presidential inaugural committee are more than twice the $62 million secured by President Joe Biden four years ago for his inauguration.
Vice-President JD Vance will also be sworn in during the same event.
Invitations have been extended to several major global powers and key US allies, including India. At the same time, key industry figures are scrambling to secure VIP passes in hopes of gaining favour with the incoming administration.
Donald Trump’s inauguration event: Who’s invited?
Joe Biden
Joe Biden confirmed he would “of course” attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, dismissing what he termed the Republican’s “childish game.”
Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Reuters/File Photo
“The only president ever to avoid an inauguration is the guy that’s about to be inaugurated,” Biden said in an interview aired on the Meidas Touch network.
While the White House had earlier announced Biden’s presence, this marked the first time Biden personally addressed the matter.
Notably, Trump did not attend Biden’s swearing-in as the 46th US president on January 20, 2021. He became the first president in 150 years to avoid a tradition symbolising the peaceful transfer of power in the US.
China’s Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping received a personal invitation from Trump, which was a surprising move amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. Reuters/File Photo
Transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told CBS News about the invite, stating it is an example of Trump “creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors.”
However, media reports suggest that Xi may send a senior official in his place. According to News18, Vice President Han Zheng or Foreign Minister Wang Yi might represent China on January 20.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed her intention to attend Trump’s inauguration, though she is still checking her schedule.
Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, US. Italian Government/Reuters
“If I can, I will gladly participate,” she said.
Meloni had earlier been invited by Trump to his inauguration and a surprise dinner and movie at Mar-a-Lago. During the event, Trump praised her as a “fantastic woman” and stated, “She’s really taken Europe by storm.”
Her visit to Mar-a-Lago was widely seen as a huge display of support for the next US president.
Argentina’s Javier Milei
A key ally of Donald Trump, Argentina’s President Javier Milei plans to attend the inauguration ceremony, a spokesperson confirmed to CBS News last month.
Bloomberg News was the first to report Milei’s attendance, citing an official from the Argentine government.
Elected as the head in 2023, Milei is known for his close relationship with Trump.
El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele
Last year, Donald Trump Jr. attended the inauguration of El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele for his second term.
Bukele was among the first global leaders to publicly congratulate Trump after his electoral victory.
Hungary’s Viktor Orban
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is said to have received an invitation to the event, sources told CBS News and added that he is still deliberating on whether he will attend.
Orban, one of Trump’s most loyal foreign allies, was welcomed by Trump at Mar-a-Lago following his election win.
Many of Trump’s supporters in the US regard Orban’s policies as a potential model for Trump’s second term.
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro
Jair Bolsonaro, a former President of Brazil, revealed that he had been invited to attend the inauguration and is currently working to reclaim his passport, which was seized last year during an investigation into the 2023 attempted coup.
Bolsonaro took to X to express his “honour at receiving the invitation” and stated that his lawyer, Paulo Bueno, had already submitted a request for Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to release the passport.
Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya confirmed plans to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, as Japan seeks to strengthen its relationship with the incoming US administration.
“We aim to build a relationship of trust with the Trump administration,” Iwaya said in an interview on NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.
Japan, a longtime US ally, is eager to set the stage for a successful second term with Trump in office.
Who will represent India?
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to represent India at Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
EAM S Jaishankar will attend Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Reuters/File Photo
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release that Jaishankar would hold meetings with members of the incoming administration and other dignitaries attending the event.
The MEA statement read, “On the invitation of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr S Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the Swearing-In Ceremony of President-Elect Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.”
Other leaders
Aside from key world leaders, figures like Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
French far-right politician Eric Zemmour will also be present at the ceremony.
An advisor from Team Trump told CNN, “Trump is very eager to have world leaders at the inauguration. He wants a global stage.”
Nigel Farage, a UK politician, also confirmed his attendance, according to Sky News.
A rehearsal takes place in front of the US Capitol ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump, in Washington. Reuters
Donald Trump’s inauguration: Who’s not invited?
Notably absent from the event will be Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, who have reportedly not received invitations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will also not attend but expressed interest in engaging with the new administration early on.
“There has been no invitation and there are no plans to attend,” EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho confirmed, adding, “We will be seeking early contacts with the new administration.”
Which tech leaders are expected to attend?
Bloomberg reported that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to attend the event.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is also expected to be present, according to a company spokesperson.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join some related festivities. Bloomberg revealed that Uber plans to co-host an inauguration party in Washington alongside Elon Musk’s X and media firm The Free Press.
Are VIP passes running out?
According to The New York Times, the demand for Donald Trump’s inauguration has led to a scarcity of VIP tickets, leaving many major donors unable to secure them.
Earlier this week, donation links provided by fundraisers for high-value contributions stopped working, despite initial plans to keep them open until Friday.
The shortage led organisers to halt ticket sales early. Marketing materials for the donor packages clearly stated, “Space is limited.”