Trump’s Inauguration Moves Indoors Due to Cold Weather – Full Guest List Revealed, PM Trudeau to Skip

President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration will be moved indoors, he announced on Friday, due to dangerously cold temperatures projected in the nation’s capital. “I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade. I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” Trump added.

As Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2025, the guest list for his inauguration offers a revealing look into the political and economic alliances shaping his administration.

The ceremony is set to be a confluence of former U.S. presidents, government officials, and a significant representation from the tech industry, alongside some notable international figures from the right-wing spectrum. Confirmed attendees include former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, alongside their spouses – former First Ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, who will be present despite her 2016 electoral defeat to Trump. However, former First Lady Michelle Obama will notably not attend, a decision echoing her absence from last week’s state funeral for Jimmy Carter, without a public explanation offered.

Breaking with tradition since 1874, this inauguration will see foreign leaders in attendance. Donald Trump has extended invitations to several right-leaning world leaders. Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who became the first foreign leader to meet Trump post-election, has confirmed his attendance. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed her intent to attend if her schedule permits. China’s President Xi Jinping, while not attending personally, will send an envoy, as reported by the Financial Times.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will miss the event, focusing instead on domestic preparations for Trump’s proposed tariffs. However, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a recent visitor to Trump at Mar-a-Lago, will represent Canada.

An update on the Ukrainian front reveals that Trump has extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stating that if Zelenskyy wants to take part in the festivities, he is welcome to come to Washington. However, Trump clarified that he did not formally invite Zelenskyy during their recent discussions in Paris. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not receive an invitation.

Meanwhile, Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, both invited, will not be present; the latter due to legal constraints in his home country.

The tech sector’s presence is particularly pronounced at this inauguration. Tech moguls Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, who have each donated significantly to Trump’s inauguration fund, will share the platform with the new administration’s cabinet members. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, another major donor, will also be in attendance. Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi and Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong round out the list of tech and business leaders at the event. TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s attendance is particularly noteworthy, coming just a day after a U.S. ban on the app was set to take effect, highlighting a recent shift in Trump’s stance on the issue.