As when Donald Trump won his dramatic presidential victory in November, world leaders raced Monday to congratulate him on his inauguration, while much of the global media focused on specific policy points from the 47th president’s speech, in contrast to their coverage of him eight years earlier.

Trump invited multiple world leaders to attend his inauguration –the first time an incoming president has ever done so. 

Several of them were on hand in the Capitol Rotunda: the most high-profile sitting heads of government in attendance were Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Javier Milei of Argentina. The two were seated next to each other during the event. 

Meanwhile, dozens of other leaders – some of them not invited to the event and others invited but unable to attend – were quick to offer their congratulations as Trump was installed for his second term. 

Among those offering congratulations: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who praised Trump’s “peace through strength” policy he hoped would result in continued U.S. aid for Ukraine in the country’s war against Russia, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who made a pitch for U.S. cooperation. 

“Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen common security,” von der Leyen wrote. 

Several leaders focused on the historic relationship between their country and the U.S. 

Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lobbied for the continuation of what he called “the world’s most successful economic partnership.” And Germany’s Olaf Scholz, whose own government faces an uncertain future with elections next month, also focused on strong historic ties. 

“The U.S. is our closest ally and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship,” Scholz said. 

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, meanwhile, vowed that “the special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. will continue to flourish for years to come.”

Other leaders focused on their personal ties with Trump.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and the American people “our warmest wishes” in his name and that of his wife, Sara, while Indian President Narendra Modi called Trump “my dear friend.”

Pope Francis, speaking from the Vatican, used his congratulatory wishes to call for moral causes. 

“Inspired by your nation's ideals of being a land of opportunity and welcome for all, it is my hope that under your leadership the American people will prosper and always strive to build a more just society, where there is no room for hatred, discrimination or exclusion,” the pontiff said. 

Conspicuous in his absence among the "congratulators" was Emmanuel Macron. 

The French president was the first global leader to tip his hat to Trump in November, offering congratulations via social media before the election had been officially called. But on Monday, Macron skipped the niceties and instead called on Europe to “wake up” and strengthen its defense capabilities. 

On Jan. 20, 2017, in coverage of Trump’s first inauguration, many major global media outlets focused on the spectacle of the elaborate inauguration ceremony, or the fact that an unorthodox figure like Trump was taking the reins of power in the U.S.

This time around, the novelty was gone and media coverage focused on very specific aspects of Trump’s inauguration speech. 

Two examples from the home countries of Meloni and Melei:  “Saved by God, today the golden age begins,” Milan’s Corriere della Sera declared in an over-sized headline, adding that Trump called for an end to the period of mourning for deceased former President Jimmy Carter. 

Argentina’s La Nacíon ran an extraordinarily detailed comparison of Trump’s two inauguration speeches, ranging from word count (2,866 words this year, around twice as many as eight years ago) to foreign countries named (Panama, China, and Mexico this time; none in 2017).