Updated Story: Trump Invites China’s Xi Jinping to Inauguration

Updated Story: Trump Invites China’s Xi Jinping to Inauguration \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his January 20 inauguration, breaking with U.S. tradition. The unprecedented move has raised questions about its implications for U.S. foreign policy, as Trump has promised to confront global rivals like China. While some view the gesture as a strategy to foster dialogue, others criticize it as risky and unconventional.

Trump’s Inauguration Invitations: Quick Looks

• Unprecedented Move: Trump invites Chinese President Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders to his inauguration.
• Breaking Tradition: No prior U.S. inauguration has included visits from foreign heads of state.
• Strategic Gesture: Trump seeks to combine diplomacy with a “dealmaker” approach to global relations.
• Mixed Reactions: Critics question the move’s risks; supporters highlight Trump’s open-dialogue approach.
• Xi’s Likely Response: Experts doubt Xi Jinping will attend, citing political and diplomatic concerns.

Deep Look

In a bold departure from tradition, President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his upcoming inauguration on January 20. The gesture marks an unorthodox approach to U.S. foreign policy, blending ceremony with diplomacy as Trump prepares to reintroduce his “America First” worldview to global relations.

Breaking with Tradition

Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, Trump confirmed his plans to invite “certain people” to his inauguration, calling the idea “a little risky” but worth exploring.

“This is about taking chances,” Trump said. “We’ll see what happens.”

His incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, later confirmed that invitations had been extended to Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders. While every U.S. inauguration customarily invites the chief diplomats stationed in Washington, no head of state has ever made an official visit for such an occasion, according to the State Department.

Reactions from Washington

Trump’s move has elicited mixed reactions. Supporters, including Leavitt, praised it as an opportunity to foster dialogue with U.S. allies and competitors.

“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but also our adversaries,” Leavitt said. “He is willing to talk to anyone, always putting America’s interests first.”

Critics, however, have labeled the gesture as cavalier. Historian Edward Frantz suggested the move prioritizes optics over values. “From the standpoint of American values, it seems shockingly cavalier,” Frantz said.

Xi Jinping’s Likely Response

Experts say Xi Jinping is unlikely to accept the invitation. Danny Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute described the move as a potential misstep. “Xi would not allow himself to be reduced to the status of a mere guest celebrating the triumph of a foreign leader,” Russel said.

China’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment, with spokesperson Mao Ning stating only, “I have nothing to share at present.”

Global Context and Diplomatic Strains

The invitation comes amid tense U.S.-China relations. Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on Chinese goods and has criticized Beijing for its economic policies and its perceived support of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

China’s indirect backing of Russia, through dual-use component sales and trade with North Korea, has further strained ties. U.S. officials have also expressed frustration with Beijing’s failure to curb North Korea’s arms shipments and troop deployments to assist Russia.

Despite these tensions, Trump framed his invitation to Xi as part of a broader strategy of engagement.

“We’ve been abused as a country,” Trump said. “They abuse us economically and militarily. But we’re going to change that.”

Reactions from Other Nations

Other world leaders have also responded cautiously. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Trump’s tariff threats, warning they would harm both economies. “Americans are waking up to the reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive,” Trudeau said earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Trump’s staunchest supporters, has reportedly declined the invitation. Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyás, said Thursday, “There is no such plan, at least for the time being.”

Inauguration Context

Every foreign chief of mission to the U.S. will also receive an invitation, a customary practice for inaugurations. Trump’s decision to extend invitations to world leaders like Xi Jinping, however, represents a dramatic shift.

Jim Bendat, author of Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President, noted, “It’s not necessarily a bad thing to invite foreign leaders, but it would make more sense to invite an ally before an adversary.”

A Diplomatic Gamble

Trump’s strategy reflects his belief that foreign policy can be approached like a business negotiation. By using a mix of “carrots and sticks,” Trump hopes to persuade adversaries like China to align more closely with U.S. interests.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby called the U.S.-China relationship “fraught with peril and responsibility.”

Whether this unconventional approach will yield results remains uncertain, but the gesture has already sparked significant debate about its implications for U.S. diplomacy.

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