As Xi Jinping snubs Trump's Inauguration Day invitation; here are world leaders who may line up to attend the ceremony on January 20

In a move that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly declined Donald Trump's invitation to attend the upcoming presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. No explanation has been provided by Chinese officials regarding Xi Jinping's decision not to attend the inauguration.

This decision comes as a significant blow to Trump's plans for a spectacular swearing-in event on January 20th, which he had hoped would turn into a global spectacle. According to State Department records, this would have marked the first time a foreign head of state has ever attended a U.S. presidential inauguration.

Top leaders to attend?

Trump has extended invitations to several high-profile international figures, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentinean President Javier Milei, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.


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Implications

This snub comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are already strained:

• Tensions between the two nations have been rising due to proposed punitive tariffs during Trump's presidential campaign.

• China is reportedly considering imposing its own tariffs as a countermeasure, potentially forcing Trump to negotiate.

• U.S. intelligence agencies have recently uncovered a major cyberattack linked to China, targeting eight major U.S. telecom companies.

Reactions and Next Steps

While Trump's team maintains optimism about international attendance, reactions to Xi Jinping's decision vary:

• Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for Secretary of State, has criticized recent Chinese actions as "an egregious, outrageous and dangerous breach of our telecommunications systems across multiple companies."

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• Despite the setback, Trump remains confident about global interest in the inauguration, stating, "I've invited a lot of great people, and they've all accepted."

• China's ambassador to the U.S., along with his wife, is expected to attend the inauguration, though additional officials may join their party.