As Donald Trump prepares to take office, reports confirm that while Xi has been invited, he is unlikely to attend the January ceremony.
Xi Jinping Likely to Skip Trump Inauguration Despite Invitation
Xi Jinping Likely to Skip Trump Inauguration Despite Invitation
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to miss the upcoming presidential inauguration, a notable departure from tradition.
The article text:
Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly not expected to attend the US presidential inauguration scheduled for January, despite receiving an invitation from Donald Trump, according to two sources familiar with the planning process. Instead, China's ambassador to the US is anticipated to represent Beijing at the event, with other officials potentially joining him, as reported by CBS News, a partner of the BBC.
This unusual invitation has raised eyebrows since there is no record of a foreign leader attending a US presidential inauguration in the past. Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, characterized the invitation as a move towards fostering open dialogue with leaders from varied backgrounds, highlighting both allies and adversaries.
While Trump has lauded Xi in certain circumstances, he has equally expressed strong criticisms of China, vowing to impose significant tariffs on Chinese imports once he takes office. In October, during a podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Trump described Xi's leadership over 1.4 billion people as both authoritarian and brilliant, regardless of varying opinions about him.
Notably, Trump's cabinet appointees, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, are vocal critics of the Chinese government. China has placed sanctions on Rubio and barred him from entering the country in 2020. Waltz has voiced urgency for the US to transcend conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to confront what he views as the more considerable threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.
Simultaneously, US intelligence agencies have reported that China is behind hacking incidents involving multiple large US telecommunications firms, potentially compromising the personal data of millions of Americans, as stated by the White House.
Since his re-election, Trump has engaged with various global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who extended an invitation to Trump for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Though typical for diplomats and ambassadors to attend presidential swearing-in ceremonies, US State Department records dating back to 1874 indicate that no foreign leaders have ever participated in such an inauguration. Leavitt mentioned that additional foreign leaders have also been invited to the event, set to take place on January 20 in Washington, D.C., though she did not disclose specific names.
The BBC has reached out to both Chinese officials and the Trump transition team for further comments regarding this situation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly not expected to attend the US presidential inauguration scheduled for January, despite receiving an invitation from Donald Trump, according to two sources familiar with the planning process. Instead, China's ambassador to the US is anticipated to represent Beijing at the event, with other officials potentially joining him, as reported by CBS News, a partner of the BBC.
This unusual invitation has raised eyebrows since there is no record of a foreign leader attending a US presidential inauguration in the past. Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, characterized the invitation as a move towards fostering open dialogue with leaders from varied backgrounds, highlighting both allies and adversaries.
While Trump has lauded Xi in certain circumstances, he has equally expressed strong criticisms of China, vowing to impose significant tariffs on Chinese imports once he takes office. In October, during a podcast interview with Joe Rogan, Trump described Xi's leadership over 1.4 billion people as both authoritarian and brilliant, regardless of varying opinions about him.
Notably, Trump's cabinet appointees, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, are vocal critics of the Chinese government. China has placed sanctions on Rubio and barred him from entering the country in 2020. Waltz has voiced urgency for the US to transcend conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to confront what he views as the more considerable threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.
Simultaneously, US intelligence agencies have reported that China is behind hacking incidents involving multiple large US telecommunications firms, potentially compromising the personal data of millions of Americans, as stated by the White House.
Since his re-election, Trump has engaged with various global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Argentinian President Javier Milei, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who extended an invitation to Trump for the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Though typical for diplomats and ambassadors to attend presidential swearing-in ceremonies, US State Department records dating back to 1874 indicate that no foreign leaders have ever participated in such an inauguration. Leavitt mentioned that additional foreign leaders have also been invited to the event, set to take place on January 20 in Washington, D.C., though she did not disclose specific names.
The BBC has reached out to both Chinese officials and the Trump transition team for further comments regarding this situation.
