Inside the parade of right-wing world leaders flocking to D.C. for Trump's inauguration
WASHINGTON—In a historic first, President-elect Donald Trump is bucking centuries of American tradition by welcoming an array of foreign leaders to his second inauguration.
The parade is about as far-right as they come, including many who — whether in policy or bombast — have been compared to Trump himself.
One of Trump’s guests is known for hoodwinking the English people into Brexiting the EU, but others aren’t household names. Still, they’re hailed as heroes in Trump’s Republican Party, where fealty, allegiance and unflinching — and unforgiving — conservative policy positions are prized more than the compassionate conservatism of a bygone era.
Below is a partial list of the Trump-like leaders coming to kiss the ring. They range from deportation advocates — one who even promised Morocco would pay for his wall — to those who deride migrants as "fortune seekers." One’s rhetoric has been dubbed Mussolini-like, while another has questioned why Germany is blamed for the atrocities of the Nazis during WW II. Still, another has derided the Pope as a “communist.”
With the far-right on the rise globally, Trump’s planning to be with his own as he celebrates his second inauguration.
Trumplike European leaders
Nigel Farage — Brexit salesman. He is known for his anti-EU and anti-immigrant stances and accused of inciting xenophobia throughout his Brexit campaign.
Giorgia Meloni — Italy’s first female prime minister. Leader of the Brothers of Italy, a far-right party with post-fascist roots. Advocate for strict immigration controls and preservation of Italy's ‘Christian’ identity. She’s alarmed critics for declaring herself a defender of "God, homeland and family," echoing nationalist slogans from the past (think Mussolini).
Rewriting Nazi atrocities
Tino Chrupalla — Co-leader of Alternative for Germany Party (AfD). Known for nationalist and Eurosceptic stances. Advocate for ending Russian sanctions and Trump fanboy. In a televised debate, Chrupalla once drew outrage for questioning Germany’s responsibility for World War II atrocities.
Mateusz Morawiecki — Former Polish prime minister. Member of the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS). A staunch conservative who regularly deploys anti-LGBTQ and anti-EU rhetoric. Once claimed Poland shouldn’t be blamed for Nazi atrocities during World War II.
Persecuting ethnic minorities now en vogue
Tom Van Grieken — Leader of Belgium’s far-right Vlaams Belang Party, which advocates for Flemish independence and stringent immigration policies. Has labeled refugees "fortune seekers" and likened multiculturalism to “the destruction of Europe.”
André Ventura — Leader of Portugal’s right-wing populist Chega Party. Anti-migrant and anti-Roma, a minority community of asylum seekers fleeing persecution back in India. Controversially called Roma communities a “state-sponsored gang” and proposed DNA testing for welfare applicants to prove their identity.
Xenophobia in the House (Senate too)!
Éric Zemmour — French far-right commentator, author and politician. Anti-immigrant, Eurosceptic. He claims France’s decline is due to immigration and liberal policies in his book, The French Suicide. Sparked outrage for accusing Muslim asylum seekers of being focused on the “colonization” of France.
Santiago Abascal — Leader of Spain’s far-right Vox Party. A vocal critic of multiculturalism and immigration. Calls for building Trump-like walls along Spain's borders to deter migrants. Calls Islam a "threat to European civilization." Once claimed feminists were part of “gender totalitarianism” at a political rally.
Mixing religion and politics
Javier Milei — Newly elected president of Argentina. A Trump-like populist. Called Pope Francis a “communist” and “representative of the evil left.”
Election denier’s request to attend inauguration denied
Jair Bolsonaro — Former President of Brazil. Bombastic right-wing populist. Facing charges for allegedly trying to overturn Brazil’s 2022 election. He had his passport confiscated, and on Thursday, the Brazilian Supreme Court denied his request to travel to Washington for Trump’s second inaugural.