Trump Favors Populists and Strongmen: Here's Who He Invited to His Inauguration
Trump Favors Populists and Strongmen: Here’s Who He Invited to His Inauguration
WASHINGTON – It’s no secret that President-choose Donald Trump likes populist leaders – often praising them for breaking norms and doing what it takes to complete things.
Now, as Trump breaks another norm—and American political culture—by inviting foreign presidents and top ministers to his Jan. 20 inauguration, these firebrands are at the top of his list.
The contemporary to verify an invite is former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who said Wednesday he’s hoping to head to Washington for Trump’s swearing-in. Here’s a list of who else Trump has invited.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil: In a post on the social media platform X, Bolsonaro stated his legal professional “has already forwarded a request … to get my passport again so that I can attend this honorable and crucial ancient event.”
The former chief, dubbed Trump of the Tropics, has been indicted for plotting a coup in 2022 to stay in office following his reelection defeat. His passport was confiscated in February 2024 after the Brazilian government indicted him and dozens of others as part of an alleged conspiracy to “violently dismantle the constitutional state.”
The conspiracy protected an alleged plan to assassinate the contemporary president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, earlier than he took the workplace in January 2023, the government says.
President Xi Jinping of China: Trump has invited Xi to attend; however, to this point, he has declined the choice of sending a delegation on his behalf. Trump has publicly praised Xi as a “sturdy guy,” a “King” who “controls 1.4 billion humans with an iron fist” and “president for lifestyles.” “I suppose it’s notable,“ Trump said in 2018. “Maybe we’ll supply that a shot in the future.“ The invitation is explicitly considered unparalleled, given that Xi is the communist leader of one of America’s leader geopolitical opponents.
President Javier Milei of Argentina:Milei, one of the first foreign leaders to meet Trump in person after his 2024 victory, is reportedly planning to attend. Trump once called the far-right liberal politician and former television commentator his “dear president“ in part because he wanted to cut spending to lower inflation, which he was elected on November 2023. Like Trump, he attacked his political rivals as “pests“ and “political thieves .“ Argentina is Interested in attacking the “rat’s nest“ in Congress.
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador: Bukele, a far-right populist leader with ties to the Trump camp, has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including thousands of involuntary detentions. Bukele, who won a second term in June despite a congressional ban on successive El Salvador reelections and manipulated the electoral system to strengthen his power, has yet to say whether he will attend. However, last year, Donald Trump Jr. was an honoree at the Bukele House launch.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary: Orban, one of Trump’s longest and strongest foreign allies, is reportedly ‘still considering whether to attend. Orban has been accused of undermining democracy in Hungary, undermining judicial independence, and fueling corruption after he was re-elected president in 2010. Trump welcomed Orban to Mar-a-Lago after the electionaccomplish. Trump’s U.S. supporters have welcomed his approach as a blueprint for a second term for Orbán.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy: Trump invited Meloni to his inauguration and Mar-a-Lago for a wonder dinner and a film final weekend, praising her as a “brilliant lady. She’s taken Europe by way of hurricane.“ Meloni opposes LGBTQ and abortion rights and has vowed to set up naval blockades to prevent migrants from reaching European shores. Her birthday party’s flag features a tricolor flame popularized by way of dictator Benito Mussolini, and she nonetheless uses a slogan preferred by fascists – “God, Fatherland, and circle of relatives.”
Two other far-right leaders who’ve no longer, as a minimum, reportedly been invited to Trump’s swearing-in: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
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