A SELECTION of some of the richest people in the world are present in Washington DC as they try to curry favour with the incoming president Donald Trump.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai, Apple head Tim Cook, and Tesla boss Elon Musk – who together control business empires valued at more than $1 trillion – were among the faces in the Capitol’s Rotunda to see Trump sworn in on Monday.
He is expected to act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to jump-start deportations, increase fossil fuel development, and reduce civil service protections for government workers.
Trump has promised that his second term will bring about “a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride”.
Throngs of Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol from the National Mall will be left to find somewhere else to view the festivities.
However, the billionaire supporters of the new administration were present inside, as were foreign leaders.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, and Javier Milei, Argentina's president, were both inside the Rotunda.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was not present, is expected to hold talks with Trump in Washington within weeks as the “special relationship” faces strains under the incoming president.
The incoming US president is weighing up whether to approve the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK’s new ambassador in Washington, the fate of the Chagos Islands deal, and the extent to which tariffs will hit Britain.
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are among the UK political figures in Washington for the ceremony.
