In an unprecedented move, President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to China’s President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration ceremony in January in Washington, D.C., a potential pivot point in inaugural traditions.
This invitation, extended to Xi shortly after Trump’s election victory in November, marks a significant break from longstanding diplomatic protocols. According to State Department records dating back to 1874, no foreign head of state has ever attended a U.S. presidential inauguration.
It remains uncertain whether Xi will attend, and the Chinese Embassy has not yet officially responded to inquiries about the president’s plans. Experts suggest that Xi is unlikely to accept, due to the potential perception of him being simply a guest at the celebration of a foreign leader’s victory.
“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,” said Trump transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
The invitation is extended at a time when Trump is preparing to implement his “America First” agenda, which includes proposed tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico. Regardless of these economic tensions, Trump has insisted that personal relationships between leaders are vital for international negotiations.
Over recent weeks, Trump’s transition headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida, has welcomed numerous global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Argentine President Javier Milei. The president-elect also held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William of the United Kingdom, during the Paris reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Trump’s relationship with Xi has been a mix of collaboration and confrontation. During his first term, Trump’s administration launched a trade war with China and criticized Beijing’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Trump has also spoken positively about his personal relationship with Xi, highlighting their “great chemistry.”
While Xi’s attendance at the inauguration is uncertain, diplomatic protocol guarantees that every country’s ambassador to the United States will receive an invitation to the event, upholding a longstanding tradition.
The Trump transition team has assigned dedicated staff to handle diplomatic protocol for the inaugural celebrations. Sources close to the planning suggest that even if Xi himself does not attend, China’s ambassador to the United States and his spouse are expected to be present at the ceremony.
If Xi accepts Trump’s invitation, it would provide an early chance for the leaders of the world’s two largest economies to exchange views on various topics such as trade relations and defense issues as Trump starts his second term.