Donald Trump’s guest list for his inauguration on January 20th as President of the United States is shaping up to be a global “who’s who” of right-wing populists, signaling the new political direction of his administration.

According to an analysis by Politico, inaugurations are traditionally characterized by a national, local, and celebratory tone, with participation mainly from American officials and foreign diplomats. Invitations to foreign heads of state are extremely rare. However, Trump, staying true to his rhetoric of defying political traditions, has invited figures such as the President of Argentina, Javier Milei; Vladimir Putin; and Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to highlight international alliances with ideological commonality. At the same time, the absence of certain individuals is also telling of his intentions.

Leaders of the European center-right and center-left have been sidelined – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has not been invited – while many far-right and nationalist leaders have received invitations. The list includes Nigel Farage, known for his anti-EU rhetoric; French far-right writer and politician Éric Zemmour; Belgian nationalist Tom Van Grieken; and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who had repeatedly clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law issues.

The presence of these figures, according to Politico, reflects the rightward political shift Trump is attempting. Notable is the presence of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been invited and maintains friendly relations with Trump despite her cooperation with the Biden administration within NATO and the G7. Meloni was even recently at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump described her as a “fantastic woman.” Argentine President Javier Milei, heralded as a “titan of economic reforms,” has already confirmed his attendance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known for his pro-Russian stance, was also invited but will not attend due to prior commitments.

The invitation extended to Chinese President Xi Jinping came as a surprise, given the U.S.-China tensions. This request signaled “Trump’s willingness to have an open dialogue” with Xi, Trump’s new Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said last month on Fox News. It’s also clear that the invitation caught Chinese diplomats off guard – the Chinese embassy in Washington has yet to confirm whether it received a formal invitation for Xi or whether Xi has responded. It’s worth noting that Chinese leaders have never attended the inauguration of a foreign leader. However, Xi is clearly looking to send a goodwill message to Trump by sending a high-ranking official to the event: The Financial Times reported last week that candidates include Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Also expected at the ceremony are the foreign ministers of India and Japan, as well as the presidents of El Salvador and Ecuador. On the other hand, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will not attend due to legal troubles.

In addition to political figures, the event will host prominent tech personalities such as Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and French billionaire entrepreneur Xavier Niel. Elon Musk will also be present, though he has an additional reason to attend, as he will soon hold a portfolio in the Trump administration.

From Germany, the leader of the far-right AfD party, Alice Weidel, was invited but stated she would not attend due to election campaign commitments. It is unclear whether another AfD politician will take her place. However, Jürgen Hardt, spokesperson for foreign policy for the conservative CDU, and Berlin’s envoy to the U.S., Andreas Michaelis, will be present.

Spain will be represented by the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, while Portugal will be represented by Chega leader André Ventura. French Ambassador to Washington Laurent Bili has also been invited and will attend.

Conversely, the absence of figures such as Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella from France is interpreted as a strategic move by Trump to focus on those who have openly expressed their support for him. The absence of the European Commission President, combined with the invitation of the EU’s ambassador to the U.S., Jovita Neliupšienė, underscores Trump’s intention to work directly with individual nations rather than European institutions.

Thus, the inauguration is not merely a national event but an international message about the political trajectory the new Trump administration intends to follow, strengthening ties with nationalist leaders and bypassing traditional allies.