Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, and his wife Nita Ambani were among an exclusive group of global elites who met US President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his second inauguration ceremony. The couple, who arrived in Washington D.C. on January 18, attended a private candlelit dinner with Trump, joining a select group of just 100 distinguished guests.
Exclusive Dinner with Trump at Lusail Palace
According to sources, the Ambanis were seen attending a state dinner at Lusail Palace in Doha, Qatar, where they also met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Video footage from the event showed Mukesh Ambani sharing a warm exchange with Trump and the Qatari leader, before heading in for the formal gathering.
The dinner was hosted by the Emir of Qatar in honour of the US President-elect. Also present was US Secretary of Commerce Steve Lutnick, who was seen having a friendly conversation with Ambani.
Ambanis to Attend Trump’s Inauguration as Personal Invitees
The Ambanis are expected to attend the January 20 swearing-in ceremony as personal guests of the Trump family, a significant reflection of the strong personal and diplomatic ties between the two families.
Unlike many wealthy attendees who donated up to $1 million for VIP access, sources say the Ambanis received a personal invitation, reinforcing their longstanding relationship with Trump and his family.
Longstanding Ties Between Ambani and the Trump Family
The bond between India’s richest man and the Trump family goes back several years.
Mukesh Ambani was present at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in 2017 in Hyderabad, attended by Ivanka Trump during her visit as White House Advisor.
Ambani also met Trump during his official visit to India in February 2020 when he was serving his first term as US President.
In March 2024, the connection deepened further when Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, and daughter Arabella attended the lavish three-day pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
The Trump family shared moments from the event on Instagram, where Ivanka described the nights as “magical evenings in Everland”, celebrating the young couple’s love story with elegance and traditional Indian charm.
A Star-Studded Inauguration Ceremony
Trump’s upcoming inauguration is shaping up to be a high-profile gathering of world leaders, billionaires, and tech giants.
Notably, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are expected to attend.
From the tech world, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, and Mark Zuckerberg will be present. Other top executives such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi are also expected to join, many of whom reportedly contributed significantly to the Trump inaugural fund.
Conclusion
The Ambanis’ presence at the Trump inauguration not only reflects their global influence and deep diplomatic connections, but also highlights India’s growing soft power on the international stage.
As the world watches Trump’s return to office, all eyes will also be on the elite gathering that includes powerful business families like the Ambanis, bridging business, politics, and personal ties across continents.
