The newly elected U.S. President, Donald Trump, has invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to participate in his inauguration, which will take place in January 2025. This was reported by sources to CBS News, citing informed individuals.
According to the sources, Trump extended the invitation to Xi Jinping shortly after the election, in early November, but it has not been confirmed whether the Chinese leader accepted the invitation. Other foreign officials are also expected to be invited to the inauguration.
Additionally, Trump’s team is discussing the possibility of other world leaders attending the inauguration. One source mentioned that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who recently visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, has not yet decided whether to attend the ceremony.
Trump’s spokesperson, Caroline Levitt, stated that “world leaders are eager to meet with President Trump because they know he will soon return to power and restore peace through American strength.”
As CBS News notes, it is customary for ambassadors and other diplomats to be invited to the inauguration, but foreign leaders have never attended the ceremony of transferring power since 1874.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron became the first world leader to visit Trump abroad after his victory in the 2024 election. This occurred during the opening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also present.
