President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly extended an unprecedented invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, according to multiple sources. While it remains unclear if Xi has accepted, this move signals Trump&rsquo;s intent to redefine global diplomatic norms.
Trump&rsquo;s outreach to Xi occurred in early November, shortly after his electoral victory. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington has not commented on the invitation. If Xi were to attend, it would mark a historical departure from tradition, as no foreign leader has ever participated in a U.S. presidential inauguration since at least 1874, according to State Department records.
Adding to the mix of potential attendees, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb&aacute;n&mdash;a far-right leader with close ties to Trump&mdash;is "still considering" his attendance, a source familiar with Orb&aacute;n&rsquo;s plans revealed. Trump&rsquo;s transition team is reportedly exploring the possibility of hosting additional foreign dignitaries, further amplifying the global focus on the event.
&ldquo;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,&rdquo; stated Trump&rsquo;s transition spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt.
The invitation to Xi comes amid heightened U.S.-China tensions, including Trump&rsquo;s threats to impose higher tariffs on Chinese goods and the looming January 19 deadline for TikTok&rsquo;s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a U.S. ban. Despite such challenges, Trump has consistently emphasised the importance of direct leader-to-leader relationships in international deal-making.
Trump&rsquo;s diplomacy extends beyond China. Since Election Day, he has engaged with a variety of global leaders at Mar-a-Lago, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Argentine President Javier Milei. Notably, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Trump in Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, attended by prominent figures such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, and Prince William.
This evolving landscape underscores Trump&rsquo;s strategy of leveraging personal connections to reshape global alliances, setting a new tone for his administration&rsquo;s foreign policy. As January 20 approaches, the potential presence of Xi Jinping and other world leaders raises questions about how these overtures will influence international relations moving forward.
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USA President- elect Donald Trump with Chinese President Xi Jinping (file photo)

Xi Jinping and other world leaders invited to January 20 event

Trump’s Inauguration Invitation: A Diplomatic First?

Xi Jinping and other world leaders invited to January 20 event

December 12, 2024 | 10:55 IST