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President Trump’s inauguration Monday was attended by some of the world’s richest and most powerful people — who made it a point to cozy up and pay their respects to him afterward.

Everyone from members of Congress to captains of the tech industry to justices on the US Supreme Court were on hand to watch Trump take his historic oath of office, and some followed up by pushing for face time with the new prez later at a special lunch.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), one of two senators who helped plan the inaugural ceremony, sat next to the 47th president and chatted “almost the entire time they were eating,” according to pool reports


  Some of the richest and most powerful people in the world attended President Trump’s inauguration luncheon on Monday. Getty Images Some of the richest and most powerful people in the world attended President Trump’s inauguration luncheon on Monday. Getty Images

  Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos was also in attendance. Getty Images Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos was also in attendance. Getty Images

   Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan attended the luncheon. Getty Images Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan attended the luncheon. Getty Images

Other lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle saw opportunities for their own entrances — and took them, too.


  Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) all stopped by the head table. Getty Images Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) all stopped by the head table. Getty Images

Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) all stopped by Trump’s head table, as did former Vice President Dan Quayle and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

On Sunday, Gillibrand had floated a bill to eliminate the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap in New York after Trump vowed to extend the provision.

As for Coons — who hails from former President Biden’s home state — he issued a cautiously optimistic statement Monday, saying he “work with” 47th president “constructively” whenever acting “in the best interests of the American people.

“I hope that President Trump will put the best interests of the country first and promote the common good in ways that will make our country freer, safer, and more prosperous,” he said.


  Barron Trump held forth at a table with Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Bezos and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). REUTERS Barron Trump held forth at a table with Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Bezos and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). REUTERS

First son Barron Trump also held forth at a table with Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).

The president has reportedly grown fond of the South Dakota Republican in recent weeks, Semafor reported, with Trump even praising the 6-foot-4 Thune as “very elegant” to advisers.

“It’s going really well … I get texts from him. I talk with him fairly regularly on the phone,” Thune told the outlet of his communications with the 47th president. “At the same time, as you know, I don’t over-promise. And I like to keep expectations realistic. And I like to be straight with people.”

Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth was seated next to Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Brett Kavanaugh reportedly left the luncheon early, but not before getting face time Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, seated at the same table.


  Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth was seated next to Justice Clarence Thomas. Getty Images Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth was seated next to Justice Clarence Thomas. Getty Images

  Justice Brett Kavanaugh reportedly left the luncheon early. Getty Images Justice Brett Kavanaugh reportedly left the luncheon early. Getty Images

Thomas faced fierce criticism for alleged sexual impropriety during his Senate confirmation hearings in October 1991. Biden had led Senate Democrats in opposing Thomas’ confirmation at the time.

Hegseth also faced opposition to his own nomination last week, when Democrats brought up sexaul assault and financial mismanagement allegations against him during the defense pick’s tenure at a veterans’ affairs advocacy group.

Elsewhere, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) broke bread with Justice Samuel Alito and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Schumer, 74, had railed against Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch as the Supreme Court was hearing a case on abortion law in March 2020.

“I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price,” the Senate Democratic leader said at the time. “You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”

It was Alito, along with Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Thomas Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Chief Justice John Roberts, who later authored the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that struck down a federal right to an abortion.

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