Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces fire flares over the radar site and carry out a combing operation towards the outskirts of Shabaa
Yemeni Armed Forces: We will continue to attack the Israeli enemy's targets in occupied Palestine.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We will continue to support the Palestinian people by barring Israeli maritime navigation and blocking ships from reaching the ports of occupied Palestine.
Yemeni Armed Forces: The operation struck the Israeli ship directly.
Yemeni Armed Forces: The operation was carried out using a ballistic missile in support of Gaza.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We carried out a military operation that targeted the Israeli SCARLET RAY oil tanker in the northern Red Sea.
President Xi Jinping: We must deepen the alignment of the high-quality Belt and Road Initiative
President Xi Jinping: Member states should expand cooperation and exploit the national potential of each country and jointly promote prosperity
China: President Xi Jinping: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is now the largest regional organization in the world
China: President Xi Jinping: We have always stood by international justice and fairness and rejected hegemony

Donald Trump Jr. says Zelensky desperately sought inauguration invite

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 19 Jan 2025 16:44
  • 6 Shares
2 Min Read

The Ukrainian President claimed that he could not attend Trump's inauguration because he did not believe it to be "proper" while his country is at war.

Listen
  • x
  • Trump Jr: 'Weirdo' Zelensky begged for inauguration invite
    Donald Trump Jr., speaks at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids Michigan on November 5, 2024. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly requested an invitation to the inauguration from incoming US President Donald Trump but was continuously turned down, according to his son Donald Trump Jr.

Trump Jr. criticized the Ukrainian leader's recent interview with American podcaster Lex Fridman, in which Zelensky indicated that he would be unable to attend the inauguration on January 20.

Zelensky informed Friedman that he could not attend because he did not believe it to be "proper" while his country is at war. "I’m not sure it’s proper to come because I know that in general, leaders are for some reason not usually invited to the inauguration of presidents of the United States of America," he stated. 

Trump Jr. responded by saying, “the funniest part is that he asked for an invite like three times unofficially, and each time got turned down.”

Trump Jr. confirms that Zelensky tried and failed to score an invite to the inauguration and got rejected. Three times. pic.twitter.com/DCLmDYT0Tq

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) January 18, 2025

Related News

Maduro: US naval deployment off Venezuela 'greatest threat in century'

Forbes: 42% of the world is now promoting pro-East narratives

He referred to Zelensky as a "Weirdo," adding, “Now he’s acting like he decided not to go himself."

Incoming US presidents typically do not invite foreign leaders to their inaugurations. Still, Trump broke with tradition and extended invitations to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Argentine President Javier Milei, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa, and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena.

While Xi and Orban have excused themselves, the rest have promised to attend. China’s Foreign Ministry announced that Vice President Han Zheng will attend as Xi’s special representative.

Back in November, Donald Trump Jr. suggested on social media that Zelensky may soon face a significant reduction in aid from the United States.

During his campaign, Donald Trump criticized Zelensky's relationship with the Biden administration, labeling him "the greatest salesman in history" for securing billions in aid from President Joe Biden's administration.

The US has since the outbreak of the war in 2022 been Ukraine's largest donor, with Congress allocating over tens of billions of dollars in military and humanitarian aid. Moscow has consistently condemned this support, arguing that it prolongs the conflict and will not alter the outcome.

  • US
  • Ukraine
  • Donald Trump
  • United States
  • Donald Trump Jr.
  • Volodymyr Zelensky

Most Read

Fierce resistance ambushes target IOF in Gaza Strip

Fierce resistance ambushes target IOF in al-Zaytoun, Gaza City

  • Politics
  • 30 Aug 2025
Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks (Photo by Mahdi Rtail)

Tom Barrack's imperial tantrum in Beirut: When entitlement speaks

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025
Although it does seem likely they will launch some kind of operation in northern Gaza, one which will accelerate its mass murder of civilians, but will fail to achieve its stated objectives. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Here is why the Israeli occupation of Gaza won’t work

  • Opinion
  • 26 Aug 2025
A scene showing an al-Qassam Brigades fighter during an ambush on July 7, 2025, in a video released by the al-Qassam Brigades on August 26, 2025 (al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

Al-Qassam reveals Beit Hanoun ambush targeting Israeli forces

  • Politics
  • 26 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Al Mayadeen English
Politics

Hezbollah’s weapons and the lessons of Syria, PLO, and Algeria

Baghaei Guardian
Europe

Baghaei: Europe backed 'Israel’s' strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Maduro: US naval deployment off Venezuela 'greatest threat in century'

AFP
Politics

SCO leaders adopt Tianjin declaration, signal push for multipolarity

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS