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The inauguration of a new president in the United States is always a monumental event that grabs headlines and sparks debate. To say the least, this time is no exception as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States (his first time as the 45th). In doing so, he follows in the footsteps of Grover Cleveland as the second president to return to the office after being out of it.

One thing that always garners attention is the guest list for the grand ceremony. Trump’s inauguration marks not only the beginning of a new term but also an opportunity to unite or divide both the nation and the global community. While some prominent guests have chosen to stay away, others have shown up with clear messages and strategic agendas. Therefore, the inauguration is more than just a ceremony – it is a reflection of the political, economic, and cultural tensions that shape our time.

We’ve taken a look at the guest list.

Politicians
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will, of course, attend as tradition dictates when the office is handed over. This is despite the fact that Trump notably skipped Biden’s inauguration in January 2021 and traveled to Florida after attempting to overturn his election loss. The living former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton will also be present, although all three will skip the traditional luncheon following the inauguration.

Among their spouses, only former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush will attend, while Michelle Obama has announced that she will not be present, citing dissatisfaction with the election of Donald Trump. Several Republican members of Congress will also attend, but a significant number of Democratic members of Congress plan to skip Trump’s inauguration – including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, according to TIME.

Tech Giants
Three of the world’s wealthiest individuals – Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg – will attend Trump’s inauguration and take prominent seats at the ceremony. They will sit alongside former presidents, Trump’s family, and his nominated cabinet members. TIME describes their participation as follows:
Elon Musk, the owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has supported Trump with over a quarter of a billion dollars in campaign funds and has been appointed co-chair of a new “Department of Government Efficiency.” Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, has been more reserved but will attend nonetheless. Zuckerberg has sought to win Trump’s favor by altering lobbying strategies and introducing user-generated “community notes” as a replacement for third-party fact-checking.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is also invited, despite previous conflicts with the Trump administration. Additionally, other tech leaders like Sam Altman (OpenAI), Sundar Pichai (Google), Tim Cook (Apple), and Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber) will attend.

International Leaders
While foreign diplomats such as ambassadors often attend U.S. presidential inaugurations, foreign heads of state rarely do. However, Donald Trump is changing that.
Trump’s guest list includes Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Other attendees include Belgium’s Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Grieken, Éric Zemmour from France’s nationalist Reconquête party, Tino Chrupalla from Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD), Spain’s Vox leader Santiago Abascal, and Nigel Farage from the UK’s Reform UK.

Trump has also invited China’s President Xi Jinping. However, China will send Vice President Han Zheng in his place. Other notable attendees include Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

America The Beautiful
Trump’s inauguration is also expected to attract celebrities and internet stars. According to TMZ, the guest list includes Jake and Logan Paul, Theo Von, Bryce Hall, and Nelk Boys, who Trump has previously collaborated with to reach young voters. Other celebrities on the guest list include Caitlyn Jenner, Amber Rose, Dana White, and Megyn Kelly. Carrie Underwood will perform the song America The Beautiful.

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