Trump Invites Xi Jinping to Inauguration Amid Political Comeback and US-China Tensions

Washington, DC [US], December 12: President-elect Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his January 20 inauguration, according to CBS News sources.

The invitation reportedly came in early November, shortly after Trump’s electoral victory, though it remains unclear whether President Xi has accepted. The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the matter.

Trump’s transition team is preparing to host multiple global leaders at the Capitol in January. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who shares a friendly rapport with Trump and met with him at Mar-a-Lago this week, is reportedly "still considering" the invitation, CBS News noted.

"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 spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

This diplomatic outreach occurs against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the US and China. Trump has threatened increased tariffs on Chinese imports and set a January 19 deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the social media platform or face a ban in the US. TikTok is appealing the ban after losing an earlier court challenge.

In a historic political comeback, Trump won a second term as President of the United States by securing 295 electoral votes in the 2024 election, defeating Democratic challenger Kamala Harris, who received 226 votes. Trump’s return to the White House marks the second instance in US history of a president serving non-consecutive terms—the first being Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892. Trump previously served as president from 2016 to 2020.