Why Were Bernard Arnault and Elon Musk at Trump’s Inauguration?
On January 20, under the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Donald Trump was sworn in as President of the United States. This inauguration ceremony was not only marked by the presence of political figures but also by major business leaders. Among them, Frenchman Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, drew significant attention.
Bernard Arnault and His Family: Their Presence at the Event
Bernard Arnault, accompanied by his wife Hélène and two of his children, Delphine and Alexandre Arnault, was among the privileged guests in the front row. The family also attended a religious service with Donald and Melania Trump earlier that morning, before the official ceremony.
To recall, Delphine Arnault is the CEO of Dior, while Alexandre Arnault has held the position of Deputy CEO of LVMH’s Wine and Spirits division since late 2024. Their presence highlights the Arnault family’s influence within international power circles.
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg: Influential Figures Gather for Trump
The ceremony also featured other influential billionaires, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. Their presence underscored the strong connection between economic and political power in the United States. In 2019, Trump had inaugurated a Louis Vuitton workshop in Texas, symbolizing the close ties between his administration and the LVMH group.
"Billionaires Are in Power, Not You": Criticism Mounts
However, this proximity between Trump and major business leaders did not go unnoticed. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy expressed his outrage on social media, denouncing the privilege given to billionaires while some Republican governors were confined to a separate room to watch the ceremony. "Billionaires are in power, not you," he asserted, reflecting a sense of frustration with an elite perceived as disconnected from the realities of ordinary citizens.
The Role of Business in Political Ceremonies
The presence of figures like Bernard Arnault, whose fortune is estimated at $180 billion according to Forbes, raises questions about the influence of great wealth on politics. These public appearances reinforce the image of a connection between global economic power and political leaders, fueling debates on social inequality and the role of elites in governance.
The Intersection of Business and Politics
Trump’s inauguration shed light on the presence of a global elite at the intersection of politics and business. While these strategic alliances may foster international collaborations, they also raise concerns about the representation of ordinary citizens in decisions shaping our future.
