Next Monday Donald Trump takes office as the 47th President of the United States.
No one from Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish government will attend the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, which is set to take place in Washington on Monday, the 20th.
In line with US tradition, ambassadors typically represent their countries at such significant events, unlike in Latin America, where the attendance of other heads of state is crucial.
Spain’s Ambassador to the United States, Ángeles Moreno, will represent Spain at the inauguration. However, the Spanish government will not be present, primarily because Donald Trump did not extend invitations. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has made it clear that the decision not to attend was made by the government itself.
‘We will always defend European values’
“Spain’s position with regard to the extreme right is clear, it is contrary to European values and we will always defend European values,” Albares said. However, he seems to have changed his stance, as when he won, he described himself as “Europe’s natural ally.” In any case, the reality is that they were never invited.
In response to the president-elect’s support for the far-right, the Spanish government is opting to skip an event to which VOX leader Santiago Abascal will attend, having received a personal invitation from Trump. “He is free to invite whoever he wants,” Albares also said when asked about this matter. The strong bond between Trump and Abascal is well-known. They have been seen together at major global right-wing events, and Trump has even appeared at VOX gatherings such as Viva22, albeit virtually.
Neither Ursula von der Leyen nor any EU vice presidents will be attending
At the European level, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will not attend either, mainly due to the US tradition of not inviting foreign political leaders. Those who will be present are attending as “friends” of Donald Trump. In addition to Abascal, these include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, one of the first people to meet Trump personally after his election victory, who he has described as an “extraordinary woman.”
These leaders will be among the European witnesses to Donald Trump’s swearing-in at 12:00 on the west front steps of the Capitol. He will arrive there after meeting with Joe Biden at the White House and transferring power, as outlined in the 20th Amendment of the US Constitution.
Edmundo González Urrutia and other Latin American leaders present at Trump’s inauguration
The president-elect of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia, is another guest invited by the new administration to witness Donald Trump’s swearing-in. This invitation is highly significant, highlighting the United States’ support for Venezuela’s democratic transition and its opposition to Chavism. Despite having a mandate from the ballot box, González Urrutia has been unable to assume power in Venezuela due to an arrest warrant issued against him by Nicolás Maduro’s government, which prevents his return to the country.
Joining González Urrutia will be one of the most controversial leaders in the region: Nayib Bukele. Republicans view him as a model for his tough stance on gangs and his success in transforming El Salvador into one of the safest countries in the world, despite the fact that when he assumed power, the country had one of the highest crime rates.
The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, a close ally of President Trump, will also travel to Washington at the invitation of his political partner, with whom he shares similar ideas and visions. Their strong rapport has been evident at previous events, where neither has hidden their mutual support.
Another of Donald Trump’s international allies during his presidency is former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. However, he will not be attending due to legal restrictions on his travel, stemming from an investigation into an alleged coup d’état. Bolsonaro requested permission from the courts but was denied.
Mexico left out
Latin American left-wing leaders will not be present, with the absence of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum being particularly significant. Despite leading MORENA, a party with which Trump has historically maintained good relations, Sheinbaum will not attend. The close ties between Trump and her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, were well known.
It’s important to note the strategic significance of the relationship between the two countries, particularly in areas like immigration, border security, and drug trafficking. Furthermore, both are members of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (T-MEC).
However, Sheinbaum has opted not to make this a contentious issue and has downplayed the matter. At least, for now, Trump has refrained from proposing the annexation of Mexico, as he has with Canada, whose Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, will also not be attending.
