Statements from U.S. and Chinese government officials or credible diplomatic analysis

Trump Invites Xi Jinping to January 20th Inauguration Despite Tariff Threats

Dec 12, 2024, 09:26 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20th, despite ongoing tensions over trade and geopolitical issues. This move is seen as an attempt to foster dialogue with both allies and competitors. However, sources indicate that Xi Jinping is not expected to attend the ceremony in person, with China likely to send a high-level delegation in his place. The invitation comes amidst Trump's threats to impose massive tariffs on Chinese goods and his administration's efforts to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking from China. The decision to invite Xi has surprised both Beijing and U.S. allies, given the complex dynamics of U.S.-China relations and the absence of precedent for foreign leaders attending U.S. presidential inaugurations.