On Monday, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president for a second time, with the ceremony held in a diminished setting in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

The audience included Trump’s family, former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, members of Trump’s cabinet, as well as various local and international governmental leaders.

Trump referred to the first day of his new term as “liberation day” during a speech emphasizing the conservative values of his administration.

“From this moment forward, America’s decline is finished,” Trump asserted.

The invited guests suggest that the new administration has garnered support from some of the biggest companies in the nation and shares a common agenda with international far-right movements.

Tech magnates and business leaders receive prime seats at inauguration

Choice seating at the event was allocated to a group of industrial leaders who have recently allied with Trump, including:

• Jeff Bezos, Executive Chairman of Amazon
• Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google
• Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
• Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
• Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta

Prominent far-right social media figure Elon Musk was a key attendee, maintaining his visible role since the campaign period.

Also present was Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, who attended following the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling supporting a law that prohibits the platform in the U.S.

Despite previously criticizing TikTok and attempting to ban it during his first term, Trump has since warmed to the platform, expressing a desire to “save” it and mentioning he has a “soft spot” for it.

“I won’t celebrate rapists”: AOC and other Democrats skip inauguration

Democratic leader Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced her absence from the event via an Instagram statement on Sunday.

“Let me make it clear: I do not celebrate rapists. Therefore, I will not be attending the inauguration,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also chose not to attend. Other Democrats missing from the gathering included Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Texas and Rep. Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts.

“I’ll be with my constituents honoring Dr. King’s legacy,” Pressley shared with YSL News earlier. “I don’t believe attending the inauguration fulfills that.”

Former Presidents attend ceremony, skip luncheon

Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama were present for the inauguration. Clinton and Bush were accompanied by their spouses, Barbara Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while Obama arrived solo as Michelle Obama had already decided not to attend the event.

Traditionally, former presidents and their families participate in inaugurations after leaving office, with the notable exception of the incoming president. Trump did not attend Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, following the events of the January 6 Capitol riot.

Reports from NBC News indicated that the former presidents would not join the customary inaugural luncheon, according to several sources familiar with the situation.

Right-wing leaders and Chinese delegation present

The inauguration saw the presence of notable far-right leaders, with Argentina’s Javier Milei and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni both in attendance, marking a historic moment as the first time serving heads of state have participated in the American transfer of power.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng was also present at the event on Monday.

Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, Josh Meyer, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Doyle Rice, Riley Beggin, Anika Reed, Brendan Morrow