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President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with other world leaders, to attend his inauguration next month. This unprecedented move breaks with tradition, as no foreign head of state has previously participated in a U.S. presidential inauguration, according to the State Department’s historical records.
During an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, where he rang the opening bell to begin the trading day, Trump shared that he had been considering inviting certain individuals, though he didn’t specify names. “Some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?’” he remarked, adding, “Maybe it is. We’ll see what happens. But we like to take little chances.”
Later, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, confirmed that Xi and other world leaders had been invited. Trump’s invitation to Xi comes at a time when the world is closely watching his return to office, particularly as he has promised to implement aggressive economic policies, including imposing significant tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico unless these countries take stronger action on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Trump has also expressed a determination to end Russia’s war in Ukraine and press NATO allies to meet defense spending commitments. Speaking on his plans, Trump remarked, “We’ve been abused as a country… we put up all the money, they put up nothing, and then they abuse us on the economy. And we just can’t let that happen.”
While experts suggest Xi may find the invitation too risky to accept, some see it as a strategic move by Trump to engage both allies and adversaries. Leavitt highlighted the importance of open dialogue with foreign leaders, emphasizing that Trump’s approach, despite criticism, led to peace during his first term.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, when asked about the invitation, declined to comment. Leavitt did not provide details on which other leaders had received invitations.
Trump’s decision to invite Xi aligns with his view of foreign policy as a negotiation, using both incentives and pressure to secure favorable terms for the U.S. Historian Jim Bendat noted that inviting a foreign leader, particularly an adversary, to the inauguration is unusual, but not necessarily negative. Presidential historian Edward Frantz added that it may help Trump bolster his image as a savvy dealmaker, though he acknowledged that the optics might seem unorthodox.
White House officials stated that Trump has full discretion over his guest list, with national security spokesperson John Kirby describing the U.S.-China relationship as “fraught with peril and responsibility.”
The guest list remains uncertain, with Hungarian President Viktor Orban’s office confirming he will not attend, despite his close ties to Trump. Trump has also extended invitations to the chiefs of mission of every country stationed in the U.S., a standard practice during past inaugurations.
Beyond trade tensions, U.S.-China relations are strained over Beijing’s perceived indirect support for Russia in its war on Ukraine and its failure to rein in North Korea’s actions. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has criticized China for aiding Russia with military supplies and for not curbing North Korea’s support for the Russian war effort.
Trump’s inauguration on January 20 is set to coincide with the deadline for ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban.
