explainer

In a departure from tradition, US President-elect Donald Trump invited world leaders and heads of far-right parties – coronation style.

United States 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.

Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are set to be sworn in and begin a new administration amid a long day of festivities that will include musical performances and parades.

However, unlike traditional inaugurations for US presidents, this one will include a group 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 were invited. According to Reuters, the total number of guests is expected to reach 500,000.

Here are details on who’s in attendance, who hasn’t been invited, and why this guest list is different from the norm:

What’s different about this opening?

President-elect Trump breaks with American tradition at this event. Presidential inaugurations are typically a domestic affair: the president and vice president take the oath of office with US officials, former heads of state and other US dignitaries present on the steps of the US Capitol. The public is allowed to view from the surrounding grounds.

However, the event, which will be accompanied by an opening speech, parade, musical performances and dance concerts, will also be an international affair. Nearly a dozen world leaders were invited, most of them conservative and right-wing. Foreign leaders do not usually attend the inauguration of the US president; Instead, diplomats, such as countries’ ambassadors to the United States, or foreign ministers, act as representatives.

Who is invited?

Several heads of state have been invited, particularly right-wing or populist leaders allied with Trump, as well as some of his rivals. It is worth noting that they are:

• Argentine President Javier MileyMiley has confirmed his attendance. Trump once praised the far-right leader as a man who could “make Argentina great again,” and in December, he welcomed Miley to 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. something won’t However, Vice President Han Cheng will be attending.
• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: Meloni, of the far-right Brotherhood of Italy party, visited Mar-a-Lago in January. Her office says she is likely to attend if her schedule allows.
• Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban: Populist leader Orban is a close ally of Trump and has said he believes the president-elect will end Russia’s war on Ukraine. he won’t Make it because of the state address, according to local media.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Modi and Trump have shared “cordial friendship” since Trump’s first presidency. After his election victory in December, Modi was among the first to call Trump and congratulate him. While the Prime Minister won’t He will be represented by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
• Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa: Noboa hailed Trump’s victory in December as a victory for Latin America as well. His office confirmed that he would suspend his re-election campaign to travel to Washington to attend the inauguration ceremony.
• President of El Salvador Nayib BukeleBukele’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 nicknamed the “Trump of the Tropics” was invited, however won’t He attends Because he is prohibited from traveling. The country’s Supreme Court confiscated his passport amid several investigations, including alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2022 general election, which he lost.
• Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz MorawieckHe, who recently became leader of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists in the EU Parliament, will also attend the conference.

Who is not invited?

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer His office confirmed on Thursday that he had not been invited. However, far-right politician, Nigel Farage of the UK’s Reform Party, is invited and will be present.
• European Commission President Ursula von der LeyenMuch of the European Union and NATO members, whose governments include largely centrists, have been ignored.
• German President Olaf SchulzIt has also been ignored, which leads the largest economy in the European Union. However, the invitation has been extended to Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, who will be represented by co-leader Tino Shruppala.
• Santiago Abascalwho leads the Spanish right-wing Vox party, and Andre Ventura A member of Portugal’s populist Chiga party will also attend the conference.
• French President Emmanuel Macron He was not invited, although Macron and Trump have friendly relations. Instead, far-right French politician Eric Zemmour of the Restoration Party will be present.

What other countries have similarly organized swearing-in ceremonies?

Different countries have different traditions, but inaugurations are usually an internal affair although they may include leaders from neighboring countries.

In India, swearing-in ceremonies have also become more extravagant. Last July, Indian President Narendra Modi had a long list of guests for his third inauguration, which hosted 9,000 guests. They included several heads of state from neighboring Indian Ocean countries, including Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and now-deposed Bangladeshi President Sheikh Hasina.

Likewise, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was also sworn in for a third consecutive term in June 2023, hosted 34 world leaders at his lavish celebrations. They included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.