‘Expand our cooperation’: Penny Wong to attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony

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US-president elect Donald Trump has invited Foreign Minister Penny Wong and ambassador Kevin Rudd to attend his 2025 Inauguration Day, alongside a host of other foreign dignitaries.

Senator Wong confirmed she and Mr Rudd would attend Trump’s swearing-in ceremony on January 20 and would meet with members of the Trump administration and congress during her visit.

“I am honoured to be invited to attend President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It is a demonstration of the steadfast alliance between Australia and the United States,” Senator Wong said in a statement.

“This early visit will be an important opportunity to discuss how we can advance the benefits of our strong economic and security partnership and expand our cooperation.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will attend Mr Trump’s second inauguration in Washington, DC.

The foreign minister’s attendance comes as Australia manoeuvres to avoid punishing tariffs Trump has vowed to impose on all foreign imports.

The president-elect has promised a 60 per cent duty on imports from China, Canada and Mexico, and 10 per cent tariffs on other nations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday it was his government’s intention “that we continue to have the trade arrangements that we have with the United States under our free trade agreement”.

However, the possibility of carve-outs has been in doubt since Trump took to social media to refute reports that his aides were exploring a pared-back tariff plan.

“The story in the Washington Post, quoting so-called anonymous sources, which don’t exist, incorrectly states that my tariff policy will be pared back. That is wrong,” Trump wrote last week in a post on his platform Truth Social.

Australia dodged tariffs on steel under the previous Trump administration following close discussions with then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Early engagement with the Trump camp hit a speed bump when old comments Mr Rudd made on social media about the president-elect resurfaced, which he has since deleted.

Since becoming ambassador, Mr Rudd has met regularly with congressional leaders and people in Trump’s circles to develop relations with the incoming administration.

The government will also seek to arrange a meeting between the foreign ministers of the Quad nations — Australia, the United States, India and Japan — on the sidelines of the inauguration.

Trump to reclaim ‘oldest president’ crown from Biden

US media has reported Chinese President Xi Jinping was invited to attend, as well as Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Argentinian President Javier Milei and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — who all lead populist right-wing governments.

Trump’s second swearing-in will mark the only non-consecutive re-inauguration of a US president after Grover Cleveland in 1893.

Michelle Obama looks stern while standing with Melania Trump, Donald Trump and Barack Obama

Donald Trump and Barack Obama talk on the steps of the US Capitol on January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Rob Carr)

He will become the oldest person to assume the presidency at 78 years and 220 days old, just surpassing outgoing US president Joe Biden who was sworn in at the age of 78 years, 61 days.

The ceremony will also fall on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr Day.

The last presidential inauguration of Mr Biden in 2021 was heavily restricted after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol weeks earlier.

Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 was met with worldwide protests, including by the Women’s March on Washington, who have told foreign media they intend to also protest against Trump’s second inauguration.

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