WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month — extending a diplomatic olive branch even as Trump threatens to slap massive tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump’s new press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed Thursday that Trump had invited Xi, but said it was “yet to be determined” whether the leader of the United States’ top economic and military rival would attend.
“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not only our allies, but also our adversaries and competitors,” Leavitt said in an appearance on Fox News. “We saw this during his first term. ..He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interests first.”
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CBS News first reported the invitation to Xi.
Leavitt said other foreign leaders have also been invited, but gave no details.
The head of mission of each country to the United States will also be invited, according to a Trump Inaugural Committee official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The invitation comes as Trump has pledged to impose massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to push those countries to do more to reduce illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States.
He has said he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada on his first day in office in January, and that China could be hit with even higher tariffs.
China produces precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, but Beijing has stepped up efforts in the past year to crack down on exports of these chemicals.
Xi last month during a meeting with President Joe Biden in Beijing urged the United States not to start a trade war.
“Make the wise choice,” Xi warned. “Keep looking for the right way for two great countries to get along.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also pushed back on Trump’s threats, warning that such a tariff change would also be dangerous for the US economy.
Trudeau said earlier this week that Americans are “starting to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive” and said he will retaliate if Trump goes through with it.
Trump responded by calling Canada a state and Trudeau the governor.
