While several major global leaders are staying away, the inauguration of Donald Trump will be attended by right-wing and populist leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, and Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki. Their attendance highlights the alignment of Trump’s administration with similar conservative governments around the world.
BY PC Bureau
As Donald Trump prepares for his second term as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025, his swearing-in ceremony is marked by the absence of most of the world’s top leaders. While the event will still see attendance from some international figures, the lack of representation from major global powers will take the fizz away from the ceremony.
Key World Leaders Missing
Several influential global leaders have declined invitations or are absent due to exclusions, signaling a tepid reception to Trump’s return to the White House:
Preview of Trump’s inauguration from where the great man will be walking, speaking, and where his guests like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos will be sitting. pic.twitter.com/STgmH9fOwt
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 16, 2025
- Xi Jinping: The Chinese President, despite receiving an invitation, will not attend. Instead, China will send a high-ranking envoy, reflecting a reserved and cautious approach to U.S.-China ties.
- Vladimir Putin: Russia’s President was notably not invited to the inauguration. The Kremlin confirmed there would be no Russian representation at the event.
- Narendra Modi: India’s Prime Minister was excluded from the guest list, raising eyebrows considering the growing strategic importance of U.S.-India relations.
- Keir Starmer: The British Prime Minister has declined the invitation, a move that underscores cool relations between the United Kingdom and Trump’s administration.
- Fumio Kishida: Japan’s Prime Minister will also be absent, continuing the trend of key allies opting out of the ceremony.
Attendance Dominated by Right-Leaning Leaders
The guest list for Trump’s inauguration leans heavily towards leaders with conservative or populist ideologies, reflecting the political alignments of his administration:
- Giorgia Meloni: The Italian Prime Minister, a staunch conservative, has confirmed her attendance, emphasizing Italy’s alignment with Trump-era policies.
- Viktor Orbán: Hungary’s Prime Minister, known for his right-wing stance, will also attend, maintaining close diplomatic ties with the U.S. under Trump.
- Mateusz Morawiecki: The Polish Prime Minister has confirmed his presence, bolstering Poland’s historically strong relationship with the Trump administration.
- Javier Milei: The recently elected President of Argentina, often compared to Trump for his populist approach, will also be present.
- Tino Chrupalla: Co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, representing a controversial faction in German politics.
- Marion Maréchal: Leader of France’s Identity–Freedoms party, a far-right figure who reflects Trump’s ideological appeal in Europe.
Notable Delegations from Major Nations
Despite the absence of their top leaders, some countries will be represented diplomatically:
- Germany: The country will send its ambassador to the United States, along with Tino Chrupalla from the AfD.
- France: While President Emmanuel Macron is not attending, Marion Maréchal will represent a faction of French politics at the event.
- Netherlands: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will not be present, though Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, is expected to attend.
- China: Beijing’s decision to send a high-ranking envoy instead of President Xi reflects a cautious acknowledgment of U.S.-China relations.
