WASHINGTON – It’s no secret President-elect Donald Trump likes populist leaders – usually praising them for breaking norms and doing what it takes to get issues achieved.
Now, as Trump breaks one other norm – and American political custom – by inviting overseas presidents and prime ministers to his Jan. 20 inauguration, these firebrands are on the high of his record.
The newest to substantiate an invitation is former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who mentioned Wednesday he’s hoping to go to Washington for Trump’s swearing-in. Right here’s an inventory of who else Trump has invited:
Former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil: In a put up on the social media platform X, Bolsonaro mentioned his lawyer “has already forwarded a request … to get my passport back so that I can attend this honorable and important historical event.”
The previous chief, dubbed Trump of the Tropics, has been indicted for plotting a coup in 2022 to remain in workplace following his reelection defeat. His passport was confiscated in February 2024 after Brazilian authorities indicted him and dozens of others as a part of an alleged conspiracy to “violently dismantle the constitutional state.”
The conspiracy included an alleged plan to assassinate the present president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, earlier than he took workplace in January 2023, authorities say.
President Xi Jinping of China: Trump has invited Xi to attend however to date 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 mentioned in 2018. “Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday.” The invitation is taken into account particularly unprecedented on condition that Xi is the communist chief of certainly one of America’s chief geopolitical rivals.
President Javier Milei of Argentina: Milei, one of many first overseas leaders to satisfy with Trump in particular person after his 2024 victory, reportedly plans to attend. Trump as soon as known as the far-right libertarian politician and former tv commentator, elected in November 2023, his “favourite president,” partially, for desirous 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.”
Associated:Recommendation from canines. A chainsaw to the system. Javier Milei, far-right libertarian, is Argentina’s new chief
President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador: Bukele, a far-right populist chief with ties to the Trump camp, is accused of committing huge human rights violations, together with 1000’s of arbitrary detentions. He assumed a second time period in June regardless of a constitutional prohibition in El Salvator of consecutive reelection and reformed the electoral system to consolidate his energy. Bukele has but to announce whether or not he’ll attend, however Donald Trump Jr. was a visitor of honor at Bukele’s inauguration final yr.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary: One in every of Trump’s longest and strongest overseas allies, Orban reportedly is ‘nonetheless contemplating’ if he’ll attend. Since his 2010 reelection as president, Orban has been accused of undermining democracy, weakening judicial independence and vastly growing corruption in Hungary. Trump welcomed Orban to Mar-a-Lago after his election win. Trump’s U.S. supporters have embraced Orbán’s strategy as a blueprint for his second time period.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy: Trump invited Meloni to his inauguration, and likewise to Mar-a-Lago for a shock dinner and a film final weekend, praising her as a “fantastic woman. She’s really taken Europe by storm.” Meloni opposes LGBTQ+ and abortion rights and has vowed to arrange naval blockades to dam migrants from reaching European shores. Her get together’s flag incorporates a tricolor flame popularized by dictator Benito Mussolini and he or she nonetheless makes use of a slogan favored by fascists – “God, Fatherland and household.”
Two different far-right leaders who haven’t, at the least reportedly, been invited to Trump’s swearing-in: Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
