Invitations were sent to the chiefs of diplomatic missions to the United States and their spouses but not to any other representatives of foreign countries . As a result , North Korea 's offer to send a senior envoy was rejected . The Tuskegee Airmen were among the invited guests for the inauguration . The five-person crew of US Airways Flight 1549 , including pilot Chesley Sullenberger , were also invited . Entertainment industry figures such as Beyoncé , Jay-Z , Steven Spielberg , Magic Johnson , Dustin Hoffman , Muhammad Ali , John Cusack , and Oprah Winfrey received invitations , as well as politicians such as Arnold Schwarzenegger , Governor of California ; Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy ; and Arizona Senator John McCain . The invitiation to Evangelical pastor Rick Warren drew some criticism
US Airways Flight 1549
US Airways Flight 1549
Invitations to the first inauguration of Barack Obama