U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has extended invitations to Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to attend his inauguration on January 20 in Washington, marking an effort to engage both allies and competitors.
Karoline Leavitt, a Trump transition spokesperson, confirmed the invitation in an interview on Thursday but noted that Xi’s response was still “to be determined.” She did not disclose the names of the other foreign leaders invited.
“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors, too,” she added. “He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interests first.”
Reports indicate that the invitation to Xi was extended in early November, shortly after Trump’s election victory on November 5. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the matter, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated on Thursday that it had not received an invitation to the inauguration.
The decision to invite Xi and other foreign leaders underscores Trump’s willingness to establish communication channels with key figures on the global stage, potentially setting the tone for his administration’s diplomatic approach.
Melissa Enoch
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