Xi Jinping Unlikely To Attend Trump’s Inauguration, Experts Say
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to decline President-elect Donald Trump’s invitation to attend the January 20 inauguration, viewing the risks as outweighing any potential diplomatic benefits, according to experts.
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that the invitation was extended, but the Chinese Embassy in Washington offered no comment. Analysts suggest that Beijing’s reluctance stems from a combination of protocol concerns and escalating tensions between the U.S. and China.
Danny Russel, former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, explained that such an appearance would undermine Xi’s image. “Can you imagine Xi Jinping sitting in Washington in January, surrounded by hawkish U.S. lawmakers, as Trump takes the oath of office? That would reduce him to a mere guest celebrating another leader’s success,” Russel said.
Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the lack of precedent for a Chinese leader attending a U.S. presidential inauguration. She also pointed to risks involving the guest list, noting that Taiwan’s top diplomat attended President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, a sensitive issue for Beijing, which considers Taiwan a red line.
Trump’s return to the White House is expected to bring more friction to U.S.-China relations. With his Cabinet picks, including Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state and Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser, Trump has signaled a hardline approach toward Beijing. His threats of imposing tariffs as high as 60% on Chinese goods have further raised concerns in China.
While experts agree Xi is unlikely to attend, they anticipate a Trump-Xi meeting in the near future. Trump prefers direct engagement with foreign leaders, and Beijing might hope to secure concessions by negotiating face-to-face. However, China is also prepared to retaliate against any aggressive U.S. policies, signaling that tensions between the two nations are unlikely to ease soon.
