Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, despite a personal invitation from Trump shortly after the election, according to two sources familiar with the planning, CBS News reports.
China’s ambassador to the US and spouse are expected to attend, along with other officials from Beijing, as is customary.
The invitation, delivered through informal channels, surprised both Beijing and US allies, prompting speculation about Trump’s intentions. Chinese officials, accustomed to strict protocol and the nuances of US-China power dynamics, expressed uncertainty regarding the invitation’s significance. State Department records dating back to 1874 indicate that a head of state has never previously attended an American presidential inauguration.
The unusual invitation comes amid heightened tensions in the US-China relationship. The recent revelation of a significant cyberattack on eight US telecom companies, attributed to Chinese actors by the US intelligence community, adds further complexity. This breach potentially compromised the metadata of millions of Americans, including high-ranking officials such as Vice President-elect JD Vance.
The decision to invite Xi has also drawn criticism from several Western diplomats who noted the diverse opinions on China within the incoming Trump administration. This invitation, they suggest, could create internal friction within the administration and further complicate the already strained geopolitical relationship between the US and China.
The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment, and while incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that other world leaders had been invited, she stated she was unaware of Xi’s response. Trump himself acknowledged having “a good relationship” with Xi and ongoing discussions, but offered no specifics regarding the inauguration invitation.
