This is how a real president acts.
Soon to be President Donald Trump has just given an invitation to China’s President Xi Jinping to join his inauguration ceremony scheduled for January 20 in Washington, D.C. This invitation, made in early November following Trump’s decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, marks a bold move in establishing key international relations as the incoming administration prepares to take office.
While the Trump transition team has not confirmed whether Xi will accept the invitation, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasized that world leaders are eager to engage with President Trump, confident in his ability to restore American strength and leadership on the global stage. “World leaders understand that President Trump will soon return to power, bringing peace and stability through a renewed focus on American strength,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Notably, this would be a historic first if Xi were to attend a U.S. presidential inauguration, as State Department records show no foreign leader has ever done so. The presence of Xi at the event would signal a significant moment in U.S.-China relations, especially in light of Trump’s previous threats to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese goods.
In addition to Xi, other world leaders are still considering attending Trump’s second inaugural, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Trump has maintained a strong relationship with Orbán, frequently citing him as a model for conservative governance. Orbán met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida just this week, reinforcing the ties between the two leaders.
As Trump prepares to return to the White House, his outreach to foreign leaders is a testament to his commitment to restoring American influence. In the past few weeks, he has met with leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump’s diplomatic efforts signal a return to a strong, America-first foreign policy approach focused on preserving national interests and standing firm against global adversaries.