President-elect Donald Trump continues to work on his White House inauguration ceremony, scheduled for Jan. 20. The MAGA leader wants to go big, turning next month’s day into a truly global event.
For this reason, then, as revealed by CNN, Trump is reportedly inviting world leaders to Washington, including heads of state who, in the recent past, have had less than idyllic relations with the United States.
Yesterday, the president-elect’s transition team tried to secure the presence of Xi Jinping, communist leader of China, a major rival nation to the US. The latter reportedly declined the invitation from Trump’s entourage: however, a delegation of senior Chinese officials is expected to attend the MAGA leader’s swearing-in on Jan. 20. “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but our adversaries and our competitors, too,” Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.
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Some sources close to Trump revealed that El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, Argentine leader Javier Milei, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among others, were also invited to the event at the U.S. capital. The three, also given their excellent relations with the president-elect, have reportedly already confirmed their presence for Inauguration Day. Yesterday, Trump said he is also considering contacting other heads of state, whose names he did not reveal, explaining, however, that according to his loyalists such a move would be “quite risky.”
The invitations came to the various foreign leaders mainly informally, during some phone calls focused on other topics. In some cases, however, the latter received a written message, signed by Trump himself. By rule, it is up to the president-elect and his team to determine which guests will attend his inauguration. It is rare, however, for heads of state to travel to Washington DC for Inauguration Day.
According to CNN, the opening beyond America’s closest Western allies marks the beginning of a new diplomatic era for the United States. The invitations to world leaders, moreover, also testify to Trump’s willingness to reconnect with his foreign “colleagues.” In fact, already during his campaign, the MAGA leader had met with several heads of state, even hosting some at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Last week, however, the president-elect flew to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame where he was able to meet with about 80 leaders.
Now, mindful of the Paris experience, Trump will try to secure the presence of key heads of state at his inauguration.
