National /International Desk
20 January
Journalist
Sandeep Dhand
Donald Trump, the Republican leader, will take the oath as the 47th President of the United States on Monday. He has arrived in Washington DC with his family on a special plane and has already started attending celebration programs. Guests from around the world have started arriving to witness the ceremony.
During his election campaign, Trump had made bold statements about imposing additional taxes on countries like China, Canada, and India. However, his tone seems to have softened now. According to media reports, Trump has expressed his interest in visiting China and India after assuming office.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the groundwork for improved relations with India began when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Washington DC around Christmas last year. India is set to host the Quad Summit this year, where leaders from the US, Japan, and Australia will join. Trump is likely to visit India in April or later and may invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting at the White House.
For Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, India will be represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Trump also recently spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping and extended an invitation to attend the event. While Jinping will not attend, China’s Vice President Han Zheng will represent the country at the ceremony.
This marks the first time a senior Chinese leader will be present at the swearing-in ceremony of a US President. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump shared that he had a positive conversation with Xi Jinping and expressed hope for resolving issues between the two nations.