Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez revealed on Thursday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump extended an informal invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his January 20 inauguration.
Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB, Romualdez clarified that the invitation was not an official diplomatic overture but rather a casual suggestion by Trump.
“President Trump’s invitation to President Xi was very informal… he called the Hungarian President as well. He said in an interview that if they wanted to attend, they could,” Romualdez shared.
No Formal Invitations for Heads of State
Romualdez emphasized that as a matter of protocol, heads of state are not formally invited to U.S. presidential inaugurations. Instead, only ambassadors based in Washington, D.C., are typically invited to attend.
“Only ambassadors represented in Washington are invited,” the envoy reiterated.
Despite this, GMA News Online reached out to the U.S. and Chinese embassies in Manila for clarification regarding the informal invitation. No response has been received as of this writing.
Xi Jinping and U.S.-China Relations
Xi Jinping previously expressed hopes for “stable, healthy, and sustainable” relations between China and the U.S. following Trump’s election victory over incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump, who is set to return to the White House for a second term, continues to generate global interest with his interactions and statements.
Marcos Jr. Not Invited
When asked if Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had received an invitation, Romualdez confirmed that he had not, reiterating the protocol that only ambassadors are invited. Romualdez himself will represent the Philippines at the event.
Trump’s second inauguration has already drawn significant attention, reflecting the continued complexity of U.S.-China relations and Trump’s broader global diplomatic engagements.