Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to travel to Washington next month as an inauguration guest of President-elect Donald Trump, according to two sources familiar with the planning. CBS News was first to report that Trump had personally invited Xi to the swearing-in ceremony shortly after Election Day.
China’s ambassador to the U.S. and his spouse are expected to attend the Jan. 20 event, as is standard practice. Sources told CBS News that additional officials from Beijing may join them.
Inauguration officials have designated staff to handle diplomatic protocol at the festivities, CBS News has learned.
The Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment. The Trump transition did not reply to a request for comment.
Asked Thursday morning whether Xi had RSVP’d, incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News she didn’t know, but she confirmed other world leaders had been invited.
“We have a good relationship with China. I have a good relationship,” Trump told CNBC this morning. “We’ve been talking …