Xi Jinping to Skip Trump's Inauguration Despite Invitation

Despite an invitation from President-elect Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend the January inauguration. The Chinese ambassador to the US may represent China instead, highlighting complex diplomatic relations as tensions rise over tariffs and cybersecurity issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is predicted not to attend the upcoming US presidential inauguration on January 20, despite receiving a rare invitation from President-elect Donald Trump. Sources familiar with the preparations suggest that while Xi will not attend, China’s ambassador to the US is likely to be present alongside other officials from Beijing.

Traditionally, foreign leaders do not attend US presidential inaugurations. A spokeswoman for Trump, Karoline Leavitt, articulated this invitation as a step towards fostering open communication with both allies and rivals alike. Although Trump has expressed admiration for Xi at times, he has also voiced strong opposition to China, promising stringent tariffs on Chinese imports upon taking office, to address ongoing trade disputes.

In a recent podcast, Trump described Xi as a "brilliant" leader controlling a population of 1.4 billion, but his administration is preparing for a confrontational policy towards China. Some of his cabinet picks, including Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, are known critics of the Chinese government. Rubio has faced sanctions from Beijing, while National Security Adviser nominee Mike Waltz advocates for prioritizing threats posed by China, along with addressing other international conflicts.

Since his election victory, Trump has held meetings with several foreign leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron, but the prospect of foreign leader attendance at the inauguration has raised eyebrows. Historically, no foreign leaders have attended, according to US State Department records from 1874.

Leavitt mentioned that other heads of state have been invited to the inauguration, although specifics have not been disclosed. As the date approaches, the implications of these diplomatic decisions continue to unfold, especially amid existing cyber warfare tensions targeting US companies linked to China.