Trump invites Xi Jinping to inauguration, breaks tradition
CBS News reported that Donald Trump, the US president-elect, invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to his presidential inauguration in Washington. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was also mentioned as a potential guest.
CBS, citing several informed sources, reports that Trump invited the Chairman of the People's Republic of China at the beginning of November, right after his electoral victory. It is unclear how Xi responded. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to the station's inquiries.
Although Trump is one of the biggest critics of China, he has repeatedly emphasized his good relations with Xi Jinping and praised his ruthlessness and intelligence. He also claimed that a "wise" president will be able to manage relations with China, Russia, or North Korea.
According to CBS, the ceremony committee also plans to include other foreign leaders. One such leader may be Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who met with Trump and his advisors in Florida on Monday. A television source reported that Orban is still considering whether to come to Washington in January.
Trump's transition team did not directly address the CBS reports. Still, Karoline Leavitt, who will serve as a White House spokesperson in the new administration, stated that "world leaders are lining up to meet with President Trump because they know he will soon return to power and restore peace through American strength worldwide."
As CBS notes, foreign leaders do not traditionally participate in U.S. presidential inaugurations. Records maintained by the State Department since 1874 do not show such an occurrence.
Trump behaves as if he has already taken power
So far, Trump has already met with a number of foreign leaders, including the presidents of Argentina, Mexico, France, and Ukraine, British Prince William, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom he recently called a "governor," suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of America.
As reported by the "Wall Street Journal" on Monday, some Democrats privately expressed outrage that the current President Joe Biden allows Trump's diplomatic activities to overshadow the actions of the White House and create the impression that he has already taken power.
