Trump Invites Xi Jinping to Inauguration Amid Rising U.S.-China Tensions
(AFP/File)
President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his January 20 inauguration, according to a CBS News report citing multiple anonymous sources. Xi’s response to the invitation remains unclear, and the Trump-Vance transition team has yet to comment on the matter.
CBS also reported that Trump’s team is considering inviting other world leaders to the ceremony, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a leader often praised by Trump for his nationalist policies.
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s transition spokesperson and incoming press secretary, said world leaders are eager to engage with Trump as he prepares to take office. “World leaders are lining up to meet with President Trump because they know he will soon return to power and restore peace through American strength around the globe,” Leavitt told CBS.
Trump’s return to office is expected to reignite tensions with China, a country he targeted during his first presidency with a contentious trade war. Trump has already pledged to reimpose tariffs on Chinese imports, reportedly as high as 60 percent. His tough stance on China comes amid increasing concerns about Beijing’s aggression toward Taiwan and its military activities in the South China Sea.
Trump has also emphasized that Taiwan should “pay the U.S. more for its defense” and vowed to impose limits on Chinese ownership of American land and resources.
Despite his hardline rhetoric, Trump has shown flexibility on certain China-related issues. During his first administration, he supported banning TikTok, a Chinese-owned app. Now, with President Joe Biden’s initiative to implement the ban nearing completion, Trump has reversed his position, opposing it.
Xi Jinping has previously pushed back against Trump’s “America First” policies. Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, Xi said: “In today’s world, any unilateralism, protectionism, and ideology of extreme self-interest are totally unworkable, and any blackmailing, blockades, and extreme pressure are totally unworkable.”
He added: “Any actions that focus only on oneself and any efforts to engage in hegemony and bullying will simply not work—not only will it not work, but it will be a dead end.”
Trump has bolstered his China-focused stance with key Cabinet picks, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Representative Mike Waltz, a vocal critic of Beijing, as National Security Adviser.
The invitation to Xi Jinping underscores the complexity of U.S.-China relations heading into Trump’s second term. While Trump promises to hold China accountable with tariffs and restrictions, his willingness to engage Xi directly hints at a more nuanced diplomatic approach.
