BREAKING: Trump invites Xi Jinping to attend inauguration
Trump has signaled his plans to play hard ball with Xi, including threats to increase tariffs on the nation’s exports to the US.
President-elect Donald Trump has reached out to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. It is not yet clear is Xi has accepted the invitation.
CBS News broke the story, saying that multiple sources had told the outlet that “inauguration officials are making plans for additional foreign dignitaries to attend the swearing-in ceremony.” CBS reports, however, that this would be the first time a foreign leader had attended an American inauguration.
“World leaders are lining up to meet with President Trump because they know he will soon return to power and restore peace through American strength around the globe,” said Karoline Leavitt, who is working on the transition team and will be the administration’s press secretary.
Trump invited Xi shortly after the presidential election, when he bested Kamala Harris in the national contest for the White House. The Chinese Embassy, CBC reported, has not yet commented on the matter.
Trump has signaled his plans to play hard ball with Xi, including threats to increase tariffs on the nation’s exports to the US.
In a recent interview with Meet the Press, Trump said of Xi “we’ve had a communication,” but did not get into details about what was discussed. The last time the two men met in person was in Japan in 2019 while the G20 summit was underway.
This is a developing story.