Global leaders join the show as Trump promises US domination

They came, they saw, they watched another person conquer.

Several foreign heads of state and government, from Ecuador to Italy, were among the guests at President Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday — an unprecedented sight at such an event, according to historians and State Department records.

The foreigners’ presence at a ceremony honoring the new U.S. leader underscored how much Trump has dashed American norms both domestically and globally. It suggested that many foreign leaders see a useful strategy in showing personal deference to Trump to stay in the good graces of the world’s most powerful country.

Also telling was who got prime seats: Argentina’s Javier Milei and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, who both hail from far-right and libertarian traditions, sat in the special group behind Trump during the ceremony.

Foreign leaders listened as Trump used his inauguration speech to promise many goals — from imposing major tariffs to retaking the Panama Canal — that could directly affect their countries and their populations.

“America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world,” Trump pledged.

At least one other foreign leader made it inside the crowded Capitol rotunda where Trump took his oath of office: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, whose country badly wants a free trade agreement with the United States.

China’s Xi Jinping declined Trump’s invitation, but he sent an envoy, Vice President Han Zheng, whose role is largely ceremonial. Han was in the rotunda, but wasn’t seen speaking to many people. No such official attended Biden’s inauguration on behalf of Beijing.

Other foreign leaders also were in Washington, some at Trump’s invitation, but others possibly of their own volition.

While they may not have gotten close to the once and once-again president, they made their presence felt in other ways. They showed up at an array of inauguration-related events, walked through the cold and crowded streets, and, of course, posted online.

They included Paraguay President Santiago Peña, whose country has heavily courted U.S. investment in recent years. Peña was officially invited but was unable to enter the rotunda, according to an official statement from his government. Paraguay blamed the omission on the lack of an explicit procedure communicated to heads of state when the ceremony moved indoors.

Noboa of Ecuador, who is facing a tough reelection battle but has wanted to court more U.S. investment, was at one point spotted at a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church across the street from the White House. Trump was in attendance.

Georgia’s Salome Zourabichvili, whose status as president is currently a matter of dispute in her country, was also in Washington. As the inauguration ceremony was underway, she posted on social media about America’s many friends in the Georgian population.

“I am grateful for the great opportunity to represent Georgia and its courageous people at the inauguration of President Trump,” she wrote.

Some former heads of government or state were in town, too, including Polish ex-Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It’s possible more leaders would have shown up had they not had excuses to be elsewhere. The World Economic Forum is underway in Davos, Switzerland, offering one rival venue for foreign officials.

That didn’t stop those not in Washington from issuing immediate congratulations — and some not-so-subtle appeals — to the Republican who beat historical odds to return to the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose nation’s fate could be in Trump’s hands as it battles an invading Russia, praised Trump as “decisive.”

“We must all act together to make it a great and successful century for democracies, not for those who wish us all failure,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, the leader of a military alliance Trump has repeatedly trashed, posted that “With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defence spending & production.”

In his speech, Trump cast himself as the man who will save the U.S. from a decline while also sticking to an “America First” vision that many other countries worry will cost them.

“We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer,” Trump said.

It’s common for countries to send delegations to U.S. presidential inaugurations, often headed by their ambassadors. While a lack of records makes comparisons hard, it appeared an unusual number had also sent their foreign ministers this year.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was seated toward the front of the audience in the rotunda. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong also were present. The three countries’ diplomats are scheduled to meet with Trump administration officials this week as part of the Quad alliance.

Other prominent political figures from abroad also showed up. Many of them, such as British Brexit champion Nigel Farage, hailed from populist and conservative parties.

Over the weekend, Farage posted a photo from what appeared to be a Trump rally.

“We are so back,” Farage wrote.

Veronika Melkozerova and Robbie Gramer contributed to this report.