President-elect Trump has extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his upcoming inauguration, hinting at a willingness to engage with key global figures. Despite the warm gesture, Trump continues to threaten significant economic penalties on Chinese imports, raising questions about the future of US-China relations. Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, emphasized his approach of maintaining dialogue with both allies and rivals, remarking that he "will always put America's interest first."
The invitation to Xi was first reported by CBS News. In addition to President Xi, other international leaders and every country's chief of mission to the United States have been included on the guest list, sources say. This outreach comes amidst Trump's commitment to imposing heavy tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada as a strategy to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking. On his first day in office, Trump plans to implement a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, with potentially higher tariffs targeted at China.
This move has already prompted reactions from world leaders. Xi, during a recent meeting with President Biden in Beijing, urged against entering a trade conflict, advising the US to "make the wise choice." Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized the proposed tariffs, warning they could harm the US economy and signaling readiness to retaliate. Despite tensions, Trump's invitation to Xi signals a complex diplomatic approach as he prepares to assume office. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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