For the first time in US history, foreign leaders will attend a presidential inauguration, marking a crucial moment in nation’s political tradition of the peaceful transfer of power.
President-elect Donald Trump has invited a diverse array of global figures to his swearing-in ceremony, including leaders such as Argentina’s president Javier Milei and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping declined the invitation but will be represented by his vice president, Han Zheng.
Former US presidents to attend Trump’s swearing-in
According to state department records dating back to 1874, no foreign leader has ever participated in a US transfer-of-power ceremony. In addition to Trump’s international guests, the usual cluster of American lawmakers, officials, and former presidents: Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden – are expected to attend. Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently faced Trump as Democrat rival in the 2024 presidential election, will also be present.
Tech giants to join the ceremony
Prominent tech CEOs, including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, TikTok’s Shou Chew, and Google’s Sundar Pichai, will join the inauguration festivities, seated alongside Cabinet nominees and other dignitaries.
Key attendees from abroad
Argentina
Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, will attend both the swearing-in ceremony and one of Trump’s official inaugural balls. Milei, who met Trump at Mar-a-Lago shortly after the November election, is a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” known for his sweeping economic reforms in Argentina.
At a Hispanic ball ahead of the inauguration, Milei was praised by Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy as “an inspiration.” Billionaire Elon Musk has also lauded Milei’s austerity measures, which included layoffs of public employees, wage freezes, and cuts to government spending. Milei is seeking closer ties with the US to renegotiate Argentina’s deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who recently visited Trump in Florida, will attend the inauguration. While she maintained a strong relationship with President Joe Biden, Meloni is expected to forge closer ties with Trump, positioning herself as a key intermediary between Europe and the US.
Georgia
Former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-Western leader, will attend the inauguration as a guest of US Representative Joe Wilson. Zourabichvili has faced challenges in her home country, where protests erupted following a contested parliamentary election. She has warned of Russia’s influence in the region, stating that Georgia could either be “the big success for America or the big problem for America.”
France
While French President Emmanuel Macron will not attend, several prominent far-right figures from France, including politician Eric Zemmour and European Parliament member Marion Marechal, have confirmed their presence. Zemmour has been a polarising figure in France, with multiple convictions for inciting hatred.
Latin America
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña are also expected to attend, according to their offices.
