On Inauguration Day, the Capitol Rotunda was crowded with an eclectic assembly of influential figures, including four of the world’s five richest individuals, five former U.S. presidents, notable entrepreneurs from the tech industry, and two national leaders occupying key positions at the ceremony.
President Donald Trump welcomed a diverse group of guests that ranged from traditional attendees like Supreme Court justices to more unconventional ones such as the vice president of China and Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO. Chew sat in close proximity to Tulsi Gabbard, the president’s nominee for director of national intelligence. This arrangement is interesting considering that TikTok is regarded by U.S. officials as a potential security risk. In fact, Trump had intervened just prior to the inauguration in hopes of preventing a TikTok ban, voicing gratitude for the platform’s role in his electoral success, although the app could face restrictions should its Chinese parent company fail to find an acceptable buyer in the U.S.
Among Trump’s notable guests was Joe Rogan, a highly popular podcaster, who spent three hours interviewing Trump in the lead-up to the election. Just a day before Election Day, Rogan extended his endorsement to Trump, which the president has publicly appreciated.
Seated in the same row were several billionaires and tech leaders, including Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai from Google, and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Musk has grown increasingly close to Trump since the election, taking a seat nearest to him. Meanwhile, Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, a titan in luxury goods with brands like Louis Vuitton, was situated on the opposite side of the stage.
Barron Trump, the youngest son of Donald Trump, is now 18 and a freshman at New York University. The president has credited Barron with enhancing his campaign’s online outreach, claiming his son introduced him to several significant internet personalities. Despite being a busy collegiate student, Barron is expected to maintain a bedroom at the White House.
Kai Trump, another of Trump’s granddaughters at just 17 years old, has developed a presence in social media and is an avid golfer. Her popularity surged over the past year after she took the stage at the Republican National Convention and spoke briefly at an event shortly before the inauguration. She is the daughter of Donald Trump Jr., who has been instrumental in rallying support for his father.
Miriam Adelson and John Paulson, significant contributors to Trump’s campaign, occupied prime seats next to incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during the inauguration. Paulson, a successful billionaire investor, was behind a record-breaking Palm Beach fundraiser, which raised an impressive $50.5 million. Adelson, who co-owns the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and is the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, has been a steadfast supporter of Trump and collaborated with Zuckerberg on another inaugural event.
In an unusual move, Trump also invited foreign figures to the event. Among them, Argentine President Javier Milei and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni had prominent seating next to China’s Vice President Han Zheng, who was sent by President Xi Jinping as his representative. Nearby was also China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng.
This unique gathering underscored the multifaceted connections and alliances woven into the fabric of the current political landscape, setting the tone for the administration’s upcoming activities.
