Trump loves strong men and populists. Who is coming to the inauguration?

WASHINGTON — It’s no secret that President-elect Donald Trump likes populist leaders — he often praises them for breaking norms and doing what it takes to get things done.

Now that Trump is breaking another norm — and American political tradition — by inviting foreign presidents and prime ministers to his Jan. 20 inauguration, these troublemakers are at the top of his list.

The latest to confirm an invitation is former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who said Wednesday he hoped to travel to Washington for Trump’s swearing-in. Here’s a list of who else Trump invited:

Former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil: In a post on the social media platform

The former leader, dubbed Trump of the Tropics, was indicted for plotting an attempted coup in 2022 to stay in office after his re-election loss. His passport was confiscated in February 2024 after Brazilian authorities charged him and dozens of others in an alleged plot to “violently dismantle the rule of law.”

According to authorities, the plot included an alleged plan to assassinate current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva before he takes office in January 2023.

President Xi Jinping of China: Trump has invited Xi to attend but has so far declined to send a delegation on his behalf. Trump has publicly praised Xi as a “strong man,” a “king” who “controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist” and a “president for life.” “I think it’s great,” Trump said in 2018. “Maybe one day we’ll try it.” The invitation is considered particularly unprecedented since Xi is the communist leader of one of America’s main geopolitical rivals.

President Javier Milei of Argentina: Milei, one of the first foreign leaders to meet with Trump in person after his victory in 2024, reportedly plans to attend. Trump once called the far-right libertarian politician and former television commentator, elected in November 2023, his “favorite president,” in part because he wanted to cut spending to curb inflation. Like Trump, he enjoys attacking his political rivals as “parasites” and “thieving politicians” and the Argentine Congress as a “rat’s nest.”

Related:Advice from dogs. A chainsaw to the system. Javier Milei, far-right libertarian, is Argentina’s new leader

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador: Bukele, a far-right populist leader with ties to the Trump camp, is accused of committing massive human rights abuses, including thousands of arbitrary detentions. He began a second term in June despite El Salvator’s constitution prohibiting holding consecutive re-elections and reformed the electoral system to consolidate his power. Bukele has not yet announced whether he will attend, but Donald Trump Jr. was a guest of honor at Bukele’s inauguration last year.

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban: Orban, one of Trump’s longest and strongest foreign allies, is reportedly still considering whether he will attend. Since his re-election as president in 2010, Orban has been accused of undermining democracy, weakening the independence of the judiciary and vastly increasing corruption in Hungary. Trump welcomed Orban at Mar-a-Lago after his election victory. Trump’s US supporters have adopted Orbán’s approach as a blueprint for his second term.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy: Trump invited Meloni to his inauguration and last weekend to Mar-a-Lago for a surprise dinner and a movie, praising her as a “fantastic woman.” She has truly taken Europe by storm.” Meloni opposes LGBTQ+ and abortion rights and has vowed to set up naval blockades to prevent migrants from reaching European shores. Her party’s flag features a tricolor flame popularized by dictator Benito Mussolini, and she still uses a slogan favored by fascists: “God, Fatherland and Family.”

Two other far-right leaders who were at least reportedly not invited to Trump’s swearing-in: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Trump loves strong men and populists. Who is coming to the inauguration?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply