If you tuned into the 60th Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2025, you probably noticed something felt different. It wasn't just the biting cold that forced the ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for the first time in decades. It was the crowd. Usually, these things are a sea of gray suits and career politicians. Not this time.
The question of who is at the inauguration this year turned into a fascinating study of power shifting in real-time. You had the tech titans of Silicon Valley rubbing elbows with right-wing populists from Europe, while the "old guard" of Washington looked on from the front rows. Honestly, it looked more like a high-stakes board meeting mixed with a MAGA rally and a diplomatic summit.
The Unprecedented Arrival of Foreign Leaders
For over 150 years, foreign heads of state basically didn't show up to U.S. inaugurations. It just wasn't the "done" thing. Protocol usually meant countries sent their ambassadors to represent them. Trump tossed that tradition out the window, personally inviting world leaders to watch him take the oath.
Javier Milei, the chainsaw-wielding president of Argentina, was one of the first to confirm. He’s been a vocal fan of Trump’s style, and seeing him in the Rotunda felt like a symbolic bridge between the two administrations. Then you had Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, who has positioned herself as a key link between the U.S. and the European Union.
Not everyone showed up in person, though. Xi Jinping of China was invited—a move that raised plenty of eyebrows given the trade tensions—but he opted to send Vice President Han Zheng instead. It was a calculated diplomatic move, a "we're here, but at a distance" sort of vibe. Meanwhile, other familiar faces like Viktor Orbán of Hungary and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele were prominently featured, signaling a very specific ideological alignment on the global stage.
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Silicon Valley Takes the Dais
If you want to know where the real power was sitting, look at the tech executives. This wasn't just a handful of donors. It was a full-on "who's who" of the people running the digital world.
Elon Musk was practically a fixture of the event, which isn't surprising given his new role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But he wasn't alone. Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and Sundar Pichai (Google) were all there, seated in a prominent section.
- Sam Altman (OpenAI): Reportedly donated $1 million to the inaugural fund.
- Tim Cook (Apple): Also a major donor and attendee.
- Shou Zi Chew (TikTok): His presence was particularly wild, considering the looming ban on the app that was scheduled just a day before the ceremony.
Seeing Zuckerberg and Musk in the same room after their public spats was... awkward, to say the least. But it sent a clear message: Big Tech is looking for a seat at the table in this second term.
The Former Presidents Club (Minus One)
The tradition of "peaceful transfer of power" usually means the living former presidents show up to show the world that the American system works. Despite the massive political gulf between them, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush all made the trip to Washington.
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Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were there too, fulfilling the traditional role of outgoing leadership. It’s always a bit tense, right? Watching the person who just lost a bitter campaign sit through the ceremony for their rival. But they were there.
The one major absence? Michelle Obama. While the other former First Ladies like Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush were in attendance, Michelle stayed away. No official reason was given, which naturally led to about a million theories on social media. Nancy Pelosi also skipped the event, which was a notable break from the 2017 inauguration when she did attend.
From Nashville to the Opera: The Performers
The entertainment lineup was a heavy mix of country music and patriotic anthems. No massive pop stars or Broadway ensembles this time. Instead, the committee leaned into artists who have been loyal to the movement for years.
Carrie Underwood took on the big moment, singing "America the Beautiful" right before the oaths. It was a "get" for the Trump team, as she’s one of the few A-list country stars who generally stays out of the fray but carries massive cultural weight.
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- Christopher Macchio: The opera tenor sang the National Anthem. He’s been a staple at Trump rallies since the 2020 campaign.
- Lee Greenwood: You can’t have a Trump event without "God Bless the U.S.A." He performed as the President-elect walked out.
- The Village People: This was the curveball. Despite some past legal friction over the use of "Y.M.C.A.," the group performed at a pre-inauguration rally and the Liberty Ball, stating they wanted to help "bring the country together."
The "Bro-Vote" Influencers in VIP
Maybe the most "2025" part of the guest list was the VIP area for internet personalities. Trump spent much of his campaign on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience and This Past Weekend with Theo Von, and he didn't forget them on Inauguration Day.
Jake and Logan Paul were spotted in the VIP section, along with Theo Von and the Nelk Boys. These guys represent a specific demographic—mostly young men—that the campaign targeted heavily. Seeing them at a formal government ceremony next to Supreme Court justices was a bit of a culture shock for the traditional DC crowd.
Actionable Insights for the Future
Knowing who is at the inauguration tells you more about the next four years than any policy paper. If you're trying to read the tea leaves, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Tech Stocks: The heavy presence of Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Cook suggests a pivot toward a more collaborative relationship between the White House and Silicon Valley, likely focused on deregulation.
- Diplomatic Shifts: The direct attendance of leaders like Milei and Meloni suggests that "personal diplomacy" will be the primary way the U.S. interacts with the world, bypassing traditional bureaucratic channels.
- Media Evolution: The inclusion of podcasters and YouTubers in the VIP ranks isn't a fluke. Expect the administration to continue using alternative media to speak directly to voters, leaving the traditional White House Press Corps in the dust.
The 2025 inauguration guest list wasn't just a list of people who showed up; it was a map of the new American power structure. Whether you love the lineup or hate it, the blend of tech billionaires, populist world leaders, and internet influencers is the new reality of Washington D.C.
To stay informed on how these new relationships affect policy, you should monitor the official appointments within the Department of Government Efficiency and keep a close eye on upcoming trade summits with Argentina and Italy. These will be the first places where the "inauguration alliance" gets put to the test.