Lithuanian leaders won’t attend Trump's inauguration

  • 2025-01-14
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - Lithuania's leaders will not attend US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration next week.

According to the existing US tradition, world leaders are not invited to inaugurations of US presidents. However, in December, Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inauguration.

His spokeswoman, Caroline Leavitt, has previously said that other foreign leaders have also been invited to the ceremony. The prime ministers of Italy and Hungary and the president of Argentina are expected to attend the event.

Citing the aforementioned US political tradition, the Lithuanian presidential office told BNS on Tuesday that President Gitanas Nauseda would not attend the inauguration.

"According to US state protocol, foreign heads of state are not invited to the inauguration ceremony of US presidents," presidential spokesman Ridas Jasiulionis told BNS.

Meanwhile, Ramune Muzikeviciute-Narmontiene, spokeswoman for Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis, told BNS he would be abroad for a working visit during the inauguration. 

Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas told journalists he would represent Lithuania at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20 and would, therefore, not attend the inauguration either.

"I am flying to Davos. I have not received a personal invitation," he said, adding that members of his Cabinet have no plans to go either.

Trump's inauguration in Washington will take place on January 20.