Donald Trump𒈔 is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, following his decisive victory on November 5. Preparations for the inauguration are in full swing, with numerous global leaders expected to attend the event in Washington, DC.
The ceremony will take place at noon (ET) at the US Capitol, with Trumpꦏ’s swearing-in and related proceedings beginning at 12 pm ET (10:30 pm IST). Invitations have been sent to several major global powers and key US allies, underscoring the event’s diplomatic significance. At the same time, prominent industry figures are seeking VIP access in hopes of forging connections and securing favor with the incoming Trump administration.
ꦦHere is a list of those invited to attend the ceremony.
Chinese President Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping has received a personal invitation from Donald Trump ♏to attend his inauguration, a surprising move given the ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
🥀Trump and Xi had previously met at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, in June 2019. Transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized that this invitation reflects Trump’s approach to “creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but also our adversaries and competitors.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
🌊Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Trump’s closest foreign allies, has reportedly been invited to the event, according to sources speaking to CBS News. Orban has not yet confirmed whether he will attend, though he previously visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his election victory.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
⛄Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, though she is still finalizing her schedule. CNN reported that she has officially received an invitation. "If I can, I will gladly participate," she stated.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei
ꦇJavier Milei, elected president of Argentina in 2023 and a key ally of Trump, is expected to attend, according to CBS News. A spokesperson for Milei confirmed this in December, highlighting his strong relationship with the Republican leader.
Japan’s Takeshi Iwaya
﷽Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya confirmed his attendance at the inauguration as part of Japan’s effort to strengthen ties with the incoming administration.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
♒Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, announced that he had received an invitation to the inauguration. Currently working to reclaim his passport, which was seized during an investigation into the 2023 attempted coup, Bolsonaro expressed his "honor at receiving the invitation" on X.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele
ꦇEl Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory in November, has also been invited, as confirmed by CNN. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., attended Bukele’s inauguration last year.
From Indiaℱ, External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, will attend the inauguration, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Jaishankar is also scheduled to meet with members of the incoming administration and other dignitaries during the event.
Business Leaders Attending
Bloomberg reported that Meta ✃CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to attend the swearing-in ceremony, along with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who has confirmed his presence through a company spokesperson. Additionally, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will participate in related festivities.