A Diplomatic Gamble
It was a chilly morning in Washington, D.C., when Karoline Leavitt, the incoming press secretary for President-elect Donald Trump, stepped into the spotlight. With her poised demeanor and confident tone, she addressed viewers on the morning show Fox & Friends, confirming what had already begun to circulate in diplomatic circles: Trump had extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration in January.
“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,” Leavitt said, underscoring the president-elect’s intent to forge bold new paths in U.S.-China relations.
The announcement sent ripples through Washington, surprising allies and critics alike. After all, Trump’s campaign rhetoric had often veered toward hostility when discussing China, marked by accusations of unfair trade practices and promises of steep tariffs. Yet here he was, inviting Xi Jinping to witness the peaceful transition of power, a hallmark of American democracy.
A Unique Challenge
While Trump and his team were planning for the future, the current administration, led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, maintained their grip on power. They had not been consulted about the invitation, and Biden’s staff subtly reminded reporters that the authority to engage in formal diplomacy remained with the sitting president until January 20.
“We’re still in charge here,” one senior White House aide remarked to a group of reporters. “Diplomatic relations continue under this administration’s policies until the new one is sworn in.”
The Chinese government, meanwhile, offered a measured response. At a daily press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning sidestepped the question. “I have nothing to share at present,” she said, her tone as neutral as ever. Experts speculated that Xi was unlikely to attend, given both the unprecedented nature of the gesture and the deep-seated tensions between the two nations.
Theater or Strategy?
Scott Kennedy, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, weighed in on the situation. “This is diplomatic theater, nothing more,” he told reporters. “Other heads of state, let alone Xi Jinping, haven’t attended U.S. presidential inaugurations. It’s unlikely he would break precedent now.”
Still, the invitation had achieved one thing: it put the spotlight squarely on Trump’s emerging foreign policy approach, one that promised to be as unconventional as his campaign. By inviting Xi, Trump was sending a signal that he intended to engage with China on his terms—an act that could be interpreted as either audacious or reckless.
The Waiting Game
As the days ticked closer to the inauguration, the diplomatic chess match continued. Biden’s administration proceeded with caution, ensuring that no commitments or agreements were made that could complicate the transition. Trump, meanwhile, seemed unbothered by the formalities, leaving the world guessing about what his presidency might bring.
For now, the ball was in Xi Jinping’s court, though few believed he would accept. Whether Trump’s invitation would pave the way for meaningful dialogue or simply add to the drama of the transition remained to be seen. Either way, it was clear that the president-elect was determined to start his term with a bold statement, one way or another.
All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms.
US President-elect Trump invites China’s Xi Jinping to his inauguration
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