Chinese President Xi Jinping Not Expected at Trump Inauguration

Sources close to the planning indicate that Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to be present at the US presidential inauguration in January, despite receiving an invitation from Donald Trump. The BBC’s US partner CBS News reported that sources stated China’s ambassador to the US is anticipated to attend, potentially accompanied by other officials from Beijing. CBS was the first to report on this unusual invitation, noting that historical records show no foreign leaders have previously attended a presidential inauguration. Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt informed Fox News, stating, “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just allies but our adversaries and our competitors too.” While Trump has occasionally commended Xi, he has also voiced strong criticism of China. He has committed to significantly raising tariffs on imported Chinese goods upon assuming office next month. During October, Trump remarked to podcaster Joe Rogan, “He controls 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. I mean, he’s a brilliant guy, whether you like it or not.” Several of Trump’s proposed cabinet members, such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, are known for their strong criticism of the Chinese government. The Chinese government imposed sanctions on Rubio and, in 2020, prohibited his entry into the country. Waltz has called for the US to promptly resolve the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East in order to “counter the greater threat from the Chinese Communist Party”. Recently, US intelligence agencies stated that China was responsible for a cyberattack on eight major US telecommunications firms. The White House indicated that the attackers might have gained access to data belonging to millions of Americans. Following his re-election victory last month, Trump has held meetings with several foreign leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and French President Emmanuel Macron, the latter of whom extended an invitation to Trump to attend the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. While the presence of diplomats and ambassadors at a president’s swearing-in is customary, US State Department records from 1874 onwards confirm that no foreign head of state has ever attended a US presidential inauguration. Leavitt mentioned that additional foreign leaders had also received invitations to the inauguration, scheduled for 20 January in Washington DC, but she did not name them. The BBC has reached out to Chinese officials and the Trump presidential transition team seeking comment. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.