NewDelhi: Donald Trump make history by returning to the US presidency amid a four-year gap, after which his inauguration guest list has been the much talked-about topic. The 47th president to be sworn into the US presidency today has selected a guest list that embodies his singular brand of diplomacy as well as his personal likes.
A Star-Studded Affair
Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony, steeped in 200 years of tradition, is expected to be a grand spectacle. The event will be laden with power and democracy, a lavish display bought and paid for by millions of dollars in tech giants’ cash. While the names of guests haven’t been released by the White House, they range from world leaders to allies to frenemies to staunch opponents.
What Notable Attendees and Absences Want to Know
The public list of attendees includes the world’s three wealthiest tech entrepreneurs: Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple’s Tim Cook will also join them. But much of the foreign leaders’ list skews towards the right, such as Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Xi’s Surprise Invitation
And Chinese President Xi Jinping has been invited to the ceremony in a move that has surprised many. Caroline Levitt, Trump’s spokesperson, said the decision was an expression of Trump’s belief in personal diplomacy with adversaries.
Modi’s Conspicuous Absence
Confusingly missing from the guest list is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who previously roamed the corridors of Trump World Tower as Trump’s “close friend.” The omission has questioned the condition of US-India relations and Donald Trump’s plans for a second term.
Analysing the Guest List
Experts say Trump’s guest list offers a glimpse into his diplomatic priorities and the man himself. South Asia expert Michael Kugelman calls it a “new precedent,” and Indiana University Professor Sumit Ganguly sees it as a departure from past traditions.
Analysts have been debating whether Xi’s inclusion and Modi’s exclusion make sense. China’s economic importance to the US has more weight to some than India’s, and another view is that it is a possible cooling of Trump-Modi relations.
Looking Ahead
But experts say Modi’s absence from the inauguration shouldn’t be read into too much. The Quad Summit in India later this year should also see the two leaders meet.
International issues—including the Israel-Hamas conflict, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and combating China’s global influence—are likely to take priority among Trump’s foreign policy agenda as he assumes his second term.