In a surprising diplomatic move, President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration ceremony on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. This invitation, extended in early November shortly after the U.S. presidential election, marks a potential shift in the complex dynamics of U.S.-China relations17.The invitation comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between the two global superpowers. Trump’s previous term was characterized by a trade war with China, imposing tariffs of up to 25 percent on Chinese goods8. Despite this history, the president-elect appears to be signaling a willingness to engage in high-level diplomacy from the outset of his second term.While the Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the invitation, and it remains unclear whether President Xi will accept, the move has sparked considerable interest in diplomatic circles2. If Xi were to attend, it would be an unprecedented event, as State Department records dating back to 1874 show that a foreign leader has never attended a U.S. presidential inauguration7.Trump’s transition team is reportedly preparing to host several world leaders at the Capitol for the inauguration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who recently visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, is also considering attending57.The invitation to Xi comes despite Trump’s campaign rhetoric promising a tough stance on China. He has threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese goods and has set a January 19 deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell the app or face a U.S. ban7.Trump’s approach to China is expected to be multifaceted. While he values personal relationships in international diplomacy, his administration picks, including Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, suggest a potentially more hawkish stance36. Experts anticipate a “roller-coaster type of relationship” once Trump takes office6.The invitation has elicited mixed reactions. Trump’s transition spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated, “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”57.As the inauguration approaches, all eyes will be on Beijing’s response to this unexpected olive branch from the incoming Trump administration. Whether this invitation leads to a thaw in U.S.-China relations or sets the stage for further complications remains to be seen.
