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Trump has promised a more aggressive approach towards China by increasing tariffs and nominating China hawks in his cabinet.
Trump recently said he ‘got along with very well’ with Xi amid a possible escalation of US-China trade tensions. (Reuters/File)
US President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, several sources told CBS News, despite Trump promising a more aggressive approach towards Beijing and nominating several China hawks in his upcoming Cabinet.
Trump invited Xi in early November shortly after the election, according to these sources, although it is not clear whether the Chinese President has accepted the invitation. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately comment.
Preparations are underway to additional foreign dignitaries to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Trump on January 20, 2025. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who shares a warm relationship with Trump and visited him at Mar-a-Lago this week, is “still considering” whether to attend, said a source familiar with his plans.
“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,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said.
Trump’s invitation to foreign leaders is an unprecedented step – as US State Department records dating back to 1874 show that no foreign leader has attended a transfer-of-power ceremony, although ambassadors and other diplomats have typically been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremonies.
Trump’s Aggressive Stance On China
It is also unprecedented for a leader of China, a top US geopolitical rival, to attend an American presidential nomination. However, Trump recently said in an interview that he spoke to Xi and he “got along very well” with the Chinese President.
However, Trump has been a vocal critic of Xi’s government. Members of his inner circle remain sharp critics of Beijing and Trump has nominated several China hawks like Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and Mike Waltz for national security adviser in his upcoming cabinet.
The President-elect vowed to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods if Beijing does not take steps to stop the trafficking of the highly addictive narcotic fentanyl. He also threatened tariffs in excess of 60% on Chinese goods while on the campaign trail. The US has also imposed a deadline of January 19 for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to sell the social media app or face a ban in America.
Late last month, state-run Chinese media warned Trump that his pledge to slap additional tariffs on Chinese goods over fentanyl flows could drag the world’s top two economies into a mutually destructive tariff war. However, China’s US envoy recently said that Xi wants Beijing to stay in communication with the US.
(with agency inputs)
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
