NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States, the government said in a statement on Sunday.
The newspaper said the trip was in response to an invitation from the Trump-Vance Presidential Inaugural Committee.
“During the visit, EAM will meet with representatives of the incoming administration, and will also meet with other senior officials visiting the United States at that time,” the MEA said in an announcement of the visit.
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President Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20th, and will be the first time in U.S. history that a foreign leader will attend the oath of office of a U.S. president. Trump’s team has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentine President Javier Milei, and El Salvadoran Leader Nayib Bukele to the event.
Reports from Washington said that while other lawmakers are expected to participate, Mr. Xi is likely to send a high-level envoy to represent him.
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Another leader known to share ideological affinities with Trump, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, is also on the guest list. The announcement of Jaishankar’s participation comes amid intense speculation, especially on social media, about whether Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be invited. Officials did not comment on whether the invitation was aimed specifically at the prime minister or whether Jaishankar was acting in his place.
