Trump extends unprecedented invitation to Xi Jinping for his inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his January inauguration. It is an unprecedented and historic invitation for the man who leads the United States' main economic and geopolitical competitor in the world.

According to a CBS News report, those in charge of the president-elect's inauguration are also making plans for other foreign leaders to attend the inauguration ceremony. One of the names being discussed is that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a strong ally of President Trump.

At the moment, the Hungarian leader, who visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago on several occasions, is still considering whether to attend the event, according to a source familiar with Orbán's plans.

It is not yet clear whether Xi Jinping accepted Trump's invitation, which comes as the U.S. leader threatens China with the imposition of harsh tariffs against its products should they fail to help combat the trafficking and manufacture of hard drugs such as Fentanyl.

What is clear is that Trump's invitations to foreign leaders are unprecedented. Typically, ambassadors and other diplomats usually attend inaugurations, but State Department records dating back to 1874 show that foreign heads of state never attended a handover ceremony, so of course this would be a historic event should it occur.

"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 around the globe," said Trump transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.

The invitations to the leaders of China and Hungary come as Trump has been meeting face-to-face with various leaders at Mar-a-Lago shortly before he takes office. For example, Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, visited and held an extensive meeting with the president-elect to address the issue of tariffs on Canadian products and collaboration between the countries to combat the migration crisis and drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, Argentina's president, Javier Milei, who has become a major celebrity in the conservative world, also visited President Trump, who was very amicable during the meetings with his Argentine counterpart.