Trump invites Xi Jinping and other world leaders to the inauguration - why it's unprecedented

Topline

President-elect Donald Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to attend his inauguration next month, his new press secretary confirmed Thursday, and although the Chinese leader has reportedly declined the invitation, others might World leaders will still attend the inauguration – and their presence there would be a historic first.

Then-President Donald Trump (r.) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (l.) shake hands at dinner … (+) Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 6, 2017.

AFP via Getty Images

Important facts

Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president-elect’s invitation on Thursday’s “Fox and Friends” after CBS News first reported it Wednesday night, telling the Fox hosts it was “an example of President Trump wanting an open dialogue.” with leaders of countries that are not only allies, but also our adversaries and competitors.”

The invitation was notable because Trump railed against China following his election and announced in November that he would impose additional tariffs on imports from the country. However, he has emphasized that he has a positive relationship with Xi himself, as he said on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, saying that he had spoken to the Chinese leader last week.

Xi is not expected to attend the ceremony, CBS News reported late Thursday, citing anonymous sources. However, it remains to be seen whether other world leaders could attend the inauguration, as Leavitt told Fox that Trump also invited other heads of state but did not name specific leaders.

If foreign heads of state and government appear at the opening ceremony, it would be unprecedented.

State Department records dating back to 1874, when the first visit by a foreign head of state, show that no head of state from another country has ever attended a presidential inauguration in the United States, although CBS notes that this was for lower-ranking foreign diplomats or ambassadors It’s usual to show up.

Foreign leaders are typically not invited to inaugurations because of large crowds and “security concerns,” officials told The Associated Press in 2009, when Barack Obama’s transition team declined to invite heads of state to his inauguration, citing historical precedent.

Crucial quote

Trump admitted at the opening of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday that he had “thought about inviting certain people to the inauguration,” the AP reports, but did not name specific names. “And some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?'” the president-elect added. “And I said, ‘Maybe this is it. We’ll see. “We’ll see what happens.” But we like to take small risks.”

Could other foreign leaders attend Trump’s inauguration?

It is still unclear which other heads of state and government could attend the inauguration. Trump has reportedly extended an invitation to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán – a long-time Trump ally. Sources told CBS News that the leader is “still considering” whether he will attend. One leader who is not expected to appear, however, is Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that it had not received an invitation to the swearing-in ceremony, Sky News reports.

Important background

Trump’s plan to invite world leaders to the inauguration comes as CBS notes that the president-elect believes that close relationships with world leaders are “the key to closing international deals ” are. Since his election, he has already met several world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, among others. The president-elect met with Xi several times during his first term and the president-elect praised the Chinese leader even as he criticized China. He told Fox in February that he “likes Xi a lot” and that he has been “a very good friend of mine during my time in office,” and said on Joe Rogan’s podcast that Xi is a “brilliant guy” who ” 1.4 billion people controlled with iron”. Faust.” Trump drew criticism for his relationships with other more controversial heads of state when he was in the White House, meeting with North Korean President Kim Jong-un several times and exchanging so-called “love letters” with the leader. Trump has also long been famous for his friendly Relationship with Putin in focus, which has reportedly continued since he left office, as journalist Bob Woodward reported that Trump has spoken privately with the Russian leader seven times since leaving the White House.

tangent

During his first term as president, Trump had a contentious relationship with China. He imposed tariffs on imports from the country that sparked a trade war and deemed COVID-19 a “Chinese virus” in the early days of the pandemic despite warnings it would increase anti-Asian American violence. He was not expected to soften his stance on China before the start of his second term, even as he personally praised Xi by promising to impose 60% tariffs on imports from the country and Sen. Marco Rubio, a well-known hardliner in China, appointed foreign minister as its candidate. Xi pledged to work with Trump in a meeting with President Joe Biden in November, noting that it is “vital to both parties and the world” that the U.S. and China have a stable relationship.

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Trump invites Xi Jinping and other world leaders to the inauguration – why it’s unprecedented