Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.
For the first time, the inauguration will be different from traditional ceremonies, with foreign leaders, including Trump’s close allies and some of his “rivals”, attending. At least seven heads of state and two former leaders have been invited to attend. According to Reuters, about 500,000 guests are expected to attend the ceremony.
Changes to the Inauguration Ceremony
Trump is breaking with American tradition, as traditional inaugurations of American presidents have been domestic affairs, with the participation mainly of American officials, former heads of state and other public figures in the United States. For this special event, Trump has invited a large number of world leaders, most of whom are conservative and right-wing, giving the ceremony an international dimension.
Who are the leaders who have been invited?
Several right-wing populist leaders and Trump allies have been invited to attend his inauguration. They include:
Javier Milley, the president of Argentina, who has confirmed his attendance. Milley is a close friend of Trump and was previously welcomed at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Xi Jinping, the president of China, has been invited by Trump, but he will be represented by Vice President Han Zheng.
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy and leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party.
Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, a close Trump ally, is also invited, but will not attend due to other commitments.
Daniel Noboa, the president of Ecuador, has confirmed that he will travel to attend.
Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, has not yet confirmed his attendance.
Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, known as the “Trump of the Tropics”, is also invited, but will not be able to travel due to the confiscation of his passport by authorities in Brazil
Who is not invited?
Unlike other times, several important international leaders have not been invited. They are:
Emmanuel Macron, president of France.
Keir Starmer, prime minister of the United Kingdom.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
Olaf Scholz, president of Germany, will not attend, while Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, is invited.
It is also reported that many members of the EU and NATO are not invited.
In some countries, inauguration ceremonies are also becoming more international. For example, in India last year, President Narendra Modi had invited around 9,000 guests, including many leaders from Indian Ocean countries. Likewise, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted 34 world leaders at his inauguration.
Trump’s different inauguration, accompanied by a large number of foreign leaders, will be a reflection of his political stances and the international relations he has built.
