Foreign Leaders Attending and Missing Donald Trump's 2025 Inauguration

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Breaking from tradition, the inauguration will host several foreign leaders, predominantly right-wing allies, marking a significant shift in U.S. inaugural customs.

Attending Leaders:

Javier Milei, President of Argentina: A far-right leader and admirer of Trump, Milei is set to attend, making him the first Argentine president to be present at a U.S. presidential inauguration.

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy: Leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, Meloni is expected to attend, reflecting her alignment with Trump's political stance.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India: Representing India, Jaishankar will attend the ceremony, underscoring the importance of U.S.-India relations under the new administration.

Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador: Known for his populist policies, Bukele's office has indicated his likely attendance, highlighting his rapport with Trump.

Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador: Noboa has confirmed his attendance, viewing Trump's victory as beneficial for Latin America.

Not Attending:

Xi Jinping, President of China: Despite receiving an invitation, President Xi will not attend; instead, Vice President Han Zheng will represent China, indicating a cautious approach to U.S.-China relations.

Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary: A close ally of Trump, Orban will miss the event due to a state address, though his support for Trump's policies remains evident.

Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom: Notably absent from the guest list, Starmer's exclusion reflects the inauguration's focus on leaders aligned with Trump's ideology.

Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany: Scholz was not invited; instead, Alice Weidel of the far-right Alternative for Germany party will attend, signaling a preference for right-wing representation.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France: Despite a previously amicable relationship with Trump, Macron was not invited. Far-right politician Eric Zemmour will represent France, indicating a shift towards populist alliances.

This unprecedented inclusion of foreign leaders, primarily from right-wing and populist backgrounds, at a U.S. presidential inauguration underscores a significant realignment in diplomatic relations and signals the incoming administration's international priorities.