China's Xi not expected at Trump's inauguration

Source: CBS News

December 12, 2024 / 4:00 PM EST


Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to travel to Washington next month as an inauguration guest of President-elect Donald Trump, according to two sources familiar with the planning. CBS News was first to report that Trump had personally invited Xi to the swearing-in ceremony shortly after Election Day.

China's ambassador to the U.S. and his spouse are expected to attend the Jan. 20 event, as is standard practice. Sources told CBS News that additional officials from Beijing may join them. Inauguration officials have designated staff to handle diplomatic protocol at the festivities, CBS News has learned. The Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment. The Trump transition did not reply to a request for comment.

Asked Thursday morning whether Xi had RSVP'd, incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News she didn't know, but she confirmed other world leaders had been invited. "We have a good relationship with China. I have a good relationship," Trump told CNBC this morning. "We've been talking and discussing with President Xi some things." He declined to go into detail and was not asked specifically about Xi and the inauguration.

The invitation to Xi, which was conveyed outside of formal diplomatic channels, took both Beijing and U.S. allies by surprise. Chinese officials who are accustomed to strict protocol and keenly aware of power dynamics in the US-China relationship were left wondering about Mr Trump's intent. A head of state has not attended the American inauguration, according to State Department records that date back to 1874.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chinas-xi-not-expected-trump-inauguration/