Washington, January 20, 2025: Donald Trump is set to take the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States, marking the start of his second term after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the highly anticipated 2024 presidential election. The swearing-in ceremony, which is one of the most significant events both in the US and globally, is expected to be a grand affair.
As president, Trump will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the world’s oldest democracies, with his policies having far-reaching implications for international relations and global affairs.
The inauguration will be attended by a diverse array of foreign dignitaries, including some of Trump’s allies and even a few of his critics. Invitations have been extended to seven sitting heads of state and two former leaders. Notable attendees will include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
However, key world leaders such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s President Olaf Scholz, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have not been invited.
The event is expected to draw a crowd of around 500,000, with reports indicating a significant presence from top CEOs of leading tech companies who have donated millions to Trump’s inaugural committee. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who contributed $1 million, is confirmed to attend, alongside other high-profile tech figures such as Google’s Sundar Pichai, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk, who was appointed by Trump to explore ways to reduce federal spending, expressed on X that he was “honored” to join Bezos and Zuckerberg on the inauguration stage.
However, the inauguration has also sparked significant protests. According to Reuters, thousands of demonstrators, many of them women, gathered across Washington to protest Trump’s second inauguration. The protests, reminiscent of the larger demonstrations against his first inauguration in 2017, include a “People’s March” focusing on issues such as gender justice, bodily autonomy, democracy, and immigration. The march culminated at the Lincoln Memorial after passing through various key locations near the White House.
