Official announcements from the US government or inauguration attendee lists

Trump Invites China's Xi Jinping to Jan. 20 Inauguration Amid Trade Tensions; Putin Not Invited

Dec 12, 2024, 02:34 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2025, marking a potentially unprecedented move. The invitation was first reported by CBS News and confirmed by incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She stated, "This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too." Xi's attendance would be unprecedented, as State Department records dating back to 1874 show that a foreign head of state has never attended a U.S. presidential inauguration. It remains unclear if Xi will accept the invitation. Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not received an invitation to Trump's inauguration. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that no invitation had been received. The invitation to Xi comes amid ongoing tensions between the United States and China, particularly regarding trade issues and potential tariffs on Chinese goods. Despite threatening to levy massive tariffs on Chinese products, Trump's gesture may signal an effort to open dialogue with competitors.