Elon Musk launched another attack on Keir Starmer, claiming he had been snubbed from attending Donald Trump’s inauguration – but in reality the PM was never due to go
Donald Trump has broken with tradition by inviting some world leaders to his inauguration – but Keir Starmer isn’t expected to attend.
Elon Musk decided to continue his war with Mr Starmer by claiming the PM had been snubbed from attending the lavish ceremony. But in reality, Mr Starmer was never due to go.
Historically, foreign leaders never attend the swearing-in of a US President. The UK is expected to send US ambassador Karen Pierce to the inauguration in Washington on January 20, rather than the Prime Minister, in line with tradition.
Mr Trump has decided to break with precedent by inviting several world leaders to the ceremony, including China’s Xi Jinping, Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. Last month, Mr Trump said: “Some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it? And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’ But we like to take little chances.”
However world leaders have been cautious to take up his invitation. The Chinese President decided to send a top-level envoy in his place, while Ms Meloni said she would like to attend but hasn’t formally confirmed it. Mr Milei is believed to be planning to go.
Nigel Farage is also expected to be there as he continues his efforts to ingratiate himself with the President-elect.
Mr Musk continued his war against the UK Government today by claiming Mr Starmer was snubbed from attending because of a row over Labour volunteers travelling to campaign for the Democrats in battleground states. The Trump campaign filed a legal complaint in October, claiming “blatant foreign interference”. But the PM dismissed this at the time, saying they were volunteers going in their own time.
Responding to a post on X by a user questioning why Mr Starmer wasn’t attending, the tech billionaire replied: “He sent operatives to America to undermine the US election!”
In reality, it fairly normal for party officials from the UK to be in contact with counterparts in the US. Trump’s Republican Party has strong ties to Reform and to the Conservative Party.
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No10 refused to be drawn on the invitations for the inauguration. The PM’s official spokesman said: “It’s a question for the President-elect’s team.” Asked if it was a snub, the spokesman said: “I’m not going to get into private invitations.”
Downing Street is keen for Mr Starmer to visit the White House at the earliest opportunity, with diplomatic efforts being made to secure a trip as soon as possible after the inauguration next week. However there have been warnings that he could be pipped to a coveted early visit by populist right-wing leaders like Italy’s Meloni or Hungarian leader Viktor Orban.
Theresa May was the first foreign leader to meet Mr Trump in his first term in 2017. But the visit turned into a headache for the-then PM when Mr Trump made global headlines by grabbing her hand as they walked through the White House.
