Trump loves populists and strongmen. Here's who he's invited to the inauguration
WASHINGTON – It’s no secret President-elect Donald Trump likes populist leaders – often praising them for breaking norms and doing what it takes to get things done.
Now, as Trump breaks another norm – and American political tradition – by inviting foreign presidents and prime ministers to his Jan. 20 inauguration, these firebrands are at the top of his list.
The latest to confirm 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 said his lawyer “has already forwarded a request … to get my passport back so that I can attend this honorable and important historical event.”
The former leader, 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 Brazilian authorities indicted him and dozens of others as part of an alleged conspiracy to "violently dismantle the constitutional state."
The conspiracy included an alleged plan to assassinate the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, before he took office in January 2023, authorities say.
President Xi Jinping of China: Trump has invited Xi to attend but so far he’s declined in favor of sending 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 “president for life.” “I think it’s great,” Trump said in 2018. “Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.” The invitation is considered especially unprecedented given that Xi is the communist leader of one of America’s chief geopolitical rivals.
President Javier Milei of Argentina: Milei, one of the first foreign leaders to meet with Trump in person after his 2024 victory, 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, for wanting to slash spending to tame inflation. Like Trump, he enjoys attacking his political rivals as “parasites” and “thieving politicians” and Argentina’s Congress as “the rat’s nest.”
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 violations, including thousands of arbitrary detentions. He assumed a second term in June despite a constitutional prohibition in El Salvator of consecutive reelection and reformed the electoral system to consolidate his power. Bukele has yet to announce whether he’ll attend, but Donald Trump Jr. was a guest of honor at Bukele’s inauguration last year.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary: One of Trump’s longest and strongest foreign allies, Orban reportedly is 'still considering' if he’ll attend. Since his 2010 reelection as president, Orban has been accused of undermining democracy, weakening judicial independence and vastly increasing corruption in Hungary. Trump welcomed Orban to Mar-a-Lago after his election win. Trump’s U.S. supporters have embraced Orbán’s approach as a blueprint for his second term.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy: Trump invited Meloni to his inauguration, and also to Mar-a-Lago for a surprise dinner and a movie last weekend, praising her as a “fantastic woman. She’s really taken Europe by storm.” Meloni opposes LGBTQ+ and abortion rights and has vowed to set up naval blockades to block 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 have not, at least reportedly, been invited to Trump’s swearing-in: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump loves strongmen and populists. Who's coming to the inauguration?