With Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. president just a day away, many politicians from around the world are travelling to Washington to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Trump will take the oath of office from
inside the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20. The event, originally scheduled to be held on the Capitol steps, was moved indoors due to forecasts of extremely cold weather.
Trudeau and Cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t attend as he will be holding a cabinet retreat on that same day in preparation for possible tariffs, which could be imposed on day one of Trump’s presidency.
Trump said in late November that he would
impose 25 percent tariffs on all Canadian imports if the country does not take adequate steps to improve border security and stop the flow of illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigrants into the United States.
The
cabinet retreat will run from Jan. 20–21 in the Outaouais region in Quebec, with a focus on “defending Canadian interests and strengthening Canada-U.S. relations.”
Two cabinet members, however, are expected to turn up for Trump’s inauguration: Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Trade Minister Mary Ng.
Champagne has been connecting with U.S. politicians and businesses since early 2024 in his role as
co-lead of Ottawa’s Team Canada strategy. On Jan. 16, he visited Michigan and met with Governor Gretchen Whitmer to discuss the future of the two countries’ economies.
…
“Michigan is one of the best example of what Canada and the United States can achieve,” he
posted on social media platform X on Jan. 17.
Ng, the other Team Canada co-lead, was in New Jersey and New York last week where she met with business leaders and state government officials.
Premiers
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is planning to attend the inauguration, and is already in Washington. According to her itinerary released on Jan. 17, she will be in the U.S. capital for five days, during which she plans to meet with U.S. governors and industry leaders and attend Trump’s inauguration.
…
