As Inauguration Day approaches, President-elect Donald Trump has finalized plans for the events marking his return to the White House. While several international leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have been invited, it remains unclear if they will attend.
Here’s a rundown of confirmed attendees:
President Joe Biden
President Joe Biden confirmed last month that he would attend Trump’s inauguration, stating, “Of course” he would be there. Biden noted that Trump was the only outgoing president in U.S. history to skip his successor’s inauguration in 2021, along with then-first lady Melania Trump.
Former President Barack Obama
Former President Obama will attend the January 20 ceremony, though former first lady Michelle Obama will not. The Obama family issued a statement confirming his attendance but did not explain Michelle Obama’s absence. This breaks a longstanding tradition, as most former presidents and their spouses typically attend inaugurations. Notably, Obama and Trump recently shared a laugh during former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush have confirmed their attendance, according to reports.
Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also attend. Hillary Clinton previously attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 after losing the 2016 election to him.
Elon Musk
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been appointed to co-lead Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” will be present at the inauguration. Musk, a major donor to Trump’s campaign, has become a close ally of the president-elect, though concerns have been raised about his political influence.
Jeff Bezos
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will also attend, as reported by The Washington Post. Bezos, who also owns the aerospace company Blue Origin, has expressed optimism about the Trump administration’s future space policies.
Mark Zuckerberg
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to attend, seated alongside Bezos and Musk. The tech trio will reportedly have prominent seating near former presidents, lawmakers, Trump’s family, and his Cabinet picks, according to reports.
