When President-elect Donald Trump is sworn-in for a second term in office next week, he will be joined by a host of American officials, tech mogul billionaires and, unusually for an American inauguration, foreign dignitaries.
US President Joe Biden has repeatedly confirmed he will be in attendance when Trump is sworn-in at the Capitol on Monday, reinstituting a tradition bucked by Trump who skipped out on his successor’s 2021 inauguration. The tradition is widely seen as a key symbol of the peaceful transfer of power in American democracy.
All living former presidents are also expected to be in attendance, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Michelle Obama, however, will not be at the ceremony, according to a statement released by the Obamas’ press office. It is unclear why she will not join the event, though she was absent from last week’s funeral for President Jimmy Carter.
Xi Jinping among foreign leaders invited to ceremony
Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a December interview with Fox News that Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration, describing the invite as an effort to facilitate dialogue with Beijing.
“That is true, yes, and this is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors, too. We saw this in his first term. He got a lot of criticism for it; but it led to peace around this world. He is willing to talk to anyone, and he will always put America’s interests first,” she said last month.
But it appears unlikely that Xi will be in attendance. The Financial Times reported Xi is likely to send a high-level envoy in his stead. That could be either Han Zheng, a Chinese vice president who regularly attends ceremonial events, or Wang Yi, Xi’s top diplomat.
Leavitt did not respond to an emailed request for comment on the full list of individuals Trump has invited for the inauguration ceremony.
But reports indicate Trump has also invited a pair of populist South American leaders to the ceremony, including Argentinian President Javier Millei and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on X last Wednesday that he was invited to the event, but due to an ongoing investigation into his alleged involvement in a 2022 coup it is unclear if Bolsonaro will be able to attend.
Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, confirmed in a press conference last week that Trump has invited her, but was uncertain she would attend.
“I’m evaluating the compatibility with the agenda. If I can, I will gladly participate,” she said.
