 "Ursula von der Leyen won't attend Trump's inauguration, was 'not invited', says EU")
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen will not be making an attendance to US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week as she was “not invited” to the event, Brussels said on Friday.
“There has been no invitation and there are no plans to attend,” EU spokeswoman Paula Pinho said. “We will be seeking early contacts with the new administration.”
Although foreign leaders are not invited to inauguration days, Trump has reportedly invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend the grand event.
Other leaders who have indicated that they might stop by include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President of Argentina Javier Milei and former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro. Trump’s inauguration will be held on January 20.
Netanyahu to skip ceremony too
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not fly down to the US to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The report came hours after the US President-elect shared an inflammatory video using crude words for Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s senior aide told the Times of Israel that Netanyahu is unlikely to attend Trump’s inauguration day in the coming weeks, a plan that was set earlier.
Trump and the EU
The EU is nervously eyeing the return of the volatile former reality TV star to the White House at a perilous moment for Europe.
The incoming US leader has pledged to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and European allies are desperate to convince him not to force a bad deal on the continent.
They are also scrambling to avoid trade tariffs that Trump has mooted.
Trump on Tuesday already set off a political firestorm by refusing to rule out using military force to seize Denmark’s autonomous territory Greenland.
Impact Shorts
View AllVon der Leyen insisted on Thursday that the EU “will always protect our citizens and the integrity of our democracies and freedoms”.
But she insisted the “US is one of our closest partners and we are committed to strengthening the Transatlantic bond”.
With inputs from agencies
 "Zelenskyy calls Alaska summit ‘personal victory’ for Putin, says it delays sanctions, ends Russian leader's isolation")
 "National Guard moves into DC as Trump’s law-and-order push sparks backlash from mayors")
 "Perplexity offers $34.5bn for Google’s Chrome in bid to challenge search dominance")
 "Foreign ministers of 25 countries urge Israel to let aid into Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens")
 "Zelenskyy calls Alaska summit ‘personal victory’ for Putin, says it delays sanctions, ends Russian leader's isolation")
 "National Guard moves into DC as Trump’s law-and-order push sparks backlash from mayors")
 "Perplexity offers $34.5bn for Google’s Chrome in bid to challenge search dominance")
 "Foreign ministers of 25 countries urge Israel to let aid into Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens")
