U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, 2025, despite escalating tensions between the two countries over trade issues and the trafficking of fentanyl.
The invitation was reportedly extended in early November, shortly after the November 5 presidential election, though it remains unclear whether Xi has accepted, according to CBS.
The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the matter.
In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Trump said he “got along very well” with Xi and confirmed they had “communicated as recently as this week.”
Meanwhile, Trump has appointed several outspoken critics of China to key positions in his incoming administration, including Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Trump has also pledged to impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing takes stronger action to curb the trafficking of fentanyl, a highly addictive narcotic. He threatened tariffs exceeding 60% on Chinese imports on the campaign trail.
In late November, Chinese state media warned that Trump’s proposed tariffs over fentanyl flows could lead to a mutually damaging trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
